Association of lifestyle trajectory and total lifestyle change score with risk of metabolic syndrome: The prospective community-based Ansung-Ansan cohort study

Abstract

Background & aims

We aimed to examine the association of lifestyle trajectory and total lifestyle change score with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Methods

We analyzed 2048 participants aged 40–69 years without MetS at baseline in the Ansung-Ansan cohort study. Lifestyle trajectories were identified using group based trajectory analysis, and total lifestyle change score were identified using index analysis. Healthy lifestyle trajectory and total lifestyle change score as exposure, and MetS as outcome. Cox proportional-hazards regression was used to examine the hazard ratios (HRs) for the exposure-outcome association.

Results

During the median 9.8-year follow-up, 756 cases were recorded. Compared with those in the stable low healthy lifestyle trajectory, the stable high healthy lifestyle trajectory showed a protective effect on reducing the risk of MetS (men: HR, 0.47; 95 % confidence interval [95 % CI], 0.34–0.66; women: HR, 0.62; 95 % CI, 0.43–0.91). Similar results were observed in the index based analysis, compared with those with lower total lifestyle change scores, men and women with higher scores had 46 % and 47 % lower risks of developing MetS, respectively (men: HR, 0.54; 95%CI, 0.41–0.71; women: HR, 0.53; 95 % CI, 0.41–0.68).

Conclusions

Stable healthy lifestyle trajectory was associated with a reduced risk of MetS among Korean adults. Furthermore, a higher total lifestyle change score was inversely associated with the risk of MetS.