Worldwide trends in metabolic syndrome from 2000 to 2023: a systematic review and modelling analysis.

Summary

Using 3,236 datasets covering 45.5 million adults, the authors estimated that global metabolic syndrome prevalence nearly doubled since 2000, reaching 31.0% in women and 25.7% in men by 2023 (≈1.54 billion adults). Burden rose with age, urbanization, and income, and increased in 196 countries, underscoring urgent cardiometabolic prevention needs.

Key Findings

• Global MetS prevalence increased from 14.7% to 31.0% in women and 9.0% to 25.7% in men between 2000 and 2023.
• An estimated 1.54 billion adults had MetS in 2023, with increases observed in 196 countries/territories.
• Burden rises with age, urbanicity, and income; high SBP, high fasting glucose, and kidney dysfunction remain key risks; HALE gains reversed during the pandemic.

Clinical Implications

Health systems should integrate MetS screening within primary care, prioritize high-risk groups (older, urban, higher-income settings), and scale evidence-based interventions (BP/lipid/glucose control, obesity pharmacotherapy, lifestyle) to curb downstream cardiovascular disease.

Limitations

• Heterogeneity in MetS definitions and measurement across studies and regions
• Data gaps in some countries and reliance on secondary sources may introduce uncertainty

Future Directions

Standardize MetS definitions and surveillance, expand primary data collection in underrepresented regions, and assess policy interventions’ impact on cardiometabolic outcomes.