Metabolic Syndrome and Workplace Outcomes.

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of five risk factors which have been shown to be associated with increased odds of developing certain medical conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. However, changing definitions of metabolic syndrome in the past have made it difficult to assess the true prevalence of this condition and previous research has been conducted in patient populations or in nationally representative studies. The purpose of this dissertation is to determine the prevalence and impact of metabolic syndrome risk factors and the syndrome itself in a specific employed population to compare with nationally representative samples and to assess prospectively whether metabolic syndrome is a predictor of disease. Since employers in the U.S. are common payers of heatlh care costs, they have an interest in whether or not metabolic syndrome is prevalent among working individuals. Results found that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a manufacturing corporation was similar to that found in nationally representative studies. Furthermore, individuals with metabolic syndrome were found to have higher health care costs, pharmaceutical costs, short-term disability absences, and on-the-job productivity losses compared to employees without metabolic syndrome. Finally, metabolic syndrome was a significant predictor of diabetes and heart disease in employees after two years of follow-up, after controlling for age, gender and ethnicity. Metabolic syndrome is an issue for corporations and organizations concerned with rising health care costs and productivity losses. Employees should be offered opportunities to learn of their risk factors as well as ways in which to maintain their good health or improve their health risks.