Age- and gender-specific incidence rates per 1000 person years for CVD with or without the presence of MetS.

<p>MetS IDF indicates the metabolic syndrome defined according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria; MetS ATP, the metabolic syndrome defined according to the National Cholesterol Eduation Program-Adult Treatment Panel III; and CVD, cardiovascular disease: (A) fatal and nonfatal CHD, (B) fatal and nonfatal stroke, and (C) cardiovascular death. Numbers above each bar indicate events/persons. Comparison of incidence rates between men and women with MetS within each age group using Pearson Chi²-test, <i>P</i><0.05^a, <i>P</i><0.0001^b, and NS indicates non-significance, <i>P</i>>0.05.