RESUMEN
The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (MS) in a semi-arid rural area in Bahia, motivated by the increase of impaired glucose tolerance in rural populations and the scant national data about the occurrence of MS. Total sample involved 240 adults > or = 25 years, randomly selected, 102 (42.5%) men and 138 (57.5%) women, mean age 49.5 +/- 14.9, ranging from 25 to 87 years. Diagnosis was based on the I Diretriz Brasileira de Diagnóstico e Tratamento da SM. Crude prevalence was 30.0% while the age-adjusted prevalence was 24.8%. MS frequency was higher in women (38.4%) than in men (18.6%), more elevated among individuals with age > or = 45 years (41.4%) than among those with age < 45 years (15.9%). Stratification performed according to sex and age revealed higher prevalence among women > or = 45 years (56.9%), probably associated to menopause. Presence of MS in the absence of impaired fasting glycemia and obesity, namely its best-established constituents, suggests the importance of the syndromic diagnosis, indicated by the high predictive value of some isolated metabolic alterations. High prevalence of MS requires attention for the treatment of the whole syndrome, retarding or preventing future consequences, like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.