| Baseline characteristics | With metabolic syndrome# | Without metabolic syndrome# |
| Subjects | 2971 | 20 220 |
| Age years | ||
| 19–29 | 280 (9.4) | 3374 (16.7) |
| 30–39 | 715 (24.1) | 6227 (30.8) |
| 40–49 | 1328 (44.7) | 7849 (38.8) |
| 50–55 | 648 (21.8) | 2770 (13.7) |
| Sex | ||
| Female | 1434 (48.3) | 11 326 (56.0) |
| Male | 1537 (51.7) | 8894 (44.0) |
| Family history of asthma | 446 (16.4) | 2931 (15.6) |
| Smoking | 931 (33.0) | 5752 (30.0) |
| Physical activity¶ h per week | ||
| <1 | 857 (31.6) | 4395 (24.3) |
| 1–2 | 1124 (41.4) | 7235 (40.0) |
| ≥3 | 735 (27.0) | 6459 (35.7) |
| Education years | ||
| ≤10 | 856 (29.2) | 3803 (19.0) |
| 11–12 | 1537 (52.4) | 10 750 (53.6) |
| ≥13 | 542 (18.4) | 5505 (27.5) |
| Social benefit recipient | 626 (26.3) | 3337 (20.4) |
| Economic difficulties | 909 (36.4) | 5465 (31.6) |
| Allergic rhinitis | 572 (24.1) | 3795 (23.9) |
| Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease | 1206 (52.6) | 6324 (40.5) |
| Waist circumference ≥88 cm in females, ≥102 cm in males | 1779 (59.9) | 1384 (6.8) |
| Triglycerides ≥1.7 mmol·L−1 | 324 (91.9) | 4843 (24.0) |
| HDL cholesterol <1.3 mmol·L−1 in females, <1.0 mmol·L−1 in males | 2213 (74.5) | 2715 (13.4) |
| Elevated blood pressure+ or use of anti-hypertensive medication | 2644 (89.0) | 8765 (43.3) |
| Elevated glucose§ or diabetes | 271 (9.1) | 328 (1.6) |
Total n = 23 191. Data are presented as n or n (%). HDL: high-density lipoprotein. #: metabolic syndrome was defined according to the Joint Interim Statement clinical criteria including alternate indicators anti-hypertensive medication and diabetes; glucose was nonfasting and ≥4 h since last meal. ¶: number of observations does not include total cohort due to missing data. +: systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥85 mmHg. §: ≥ 5.6 mmol·L−1 and ≥ 4 h since last meal.