Background:The screening of subjects at risk for metabolic syndrome is of considerable importance in order to prevent atherosclerosis.Material/Methods:In order to assess the clinical-laboratory characteristics of metabolic syndrome,a screening procedure was performed in subjects (age 20 –65)who exhibited hypertension and/or abnormal body mass index (BMI)and/or elevated waist-hip ratio,excluding patients with known diabetes.An oral glucose tolerance test with 75 g glucose was performed.Plasma glucose and insulin values were measured,as well as plasma lipids.Results:In subjects available for complete statistical analysis (n=944;women/men ratio 1.37:1),hyperinsulinemia was detected in 52.9%.Hyperinsulinemia with normal glucose tolerance was more often detected (33.2%),hyperinsulinemia with impaired glucose tolerance [IGT ]or diabetes less frequently (13.0%and 6.7%,respectively).When abnormal clinical signs were separately analysed,hyperinsulinemia was found in 56.8%of subjects with abnormal BMI,in 43.8% of subjects with abnormal waist-hip ratio,and in 27.1% of subjects with hypertension. Metabolic syndrome (WHO criteria,modified)was diagnosed in 35.2%of subjects,with male predominance (men:40.6%;women:31.2%;p

Keywords: Hypertension - epidemiology, Obesity - epidemiology, Obesity - metabolism