Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Qassim University personnel in Saudi Arabia

Introduction

Metabolic syndrome represents the presence of a combination of interrelated risk factors including central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hypertension. Subjects with metabolic syndrome have substantially increased risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). Also, the overall mortality is higher among patients with metabolic syndrome, particularly the mortality associated with CVD. This increase in CVD disease risk appears to be independent of other important and potentially confounding factors such as smoking and elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels. The adverse effects of metabolic syndrome are manifested across the whole spectrum of blood glucose level status (i.e., patients having normal blood glucose levels, those having impaired fasting blood glucose and those with frank diabetes mellitus).

Methods

A cross sectional study was conducted that included all male staff of different ages and careers in Qassim University. All staff members were invited to participate; however, 560 individuals participated in this study with a response rate of 85%. For all participants, the data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, past history of or currently taking medication for diabetes or hypertension, smoking habits, physical activity, and the measurements necessary to identify metabolic syndrome.

Results

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 31.4%. The prevalence was found to show a steady increase with increasing age, BMI and serum cholesterol. General obesity measured by BMI was the most common component associated with the syndrome where 75% of participants suffered from overweight and obesity. Participants with high-density lipoprotein below protective level constituted 73.6%, while those with total cholesterol and triglyceride above clinically normal level constituted 60.0% & 46.4% respectively. Fasting plasma glucose and hypertension was the least common. After adjustment, factors found to be associated with metabolic syndrome were being a Saudi national, smoking, not doing regular exercise, being obese, having total serum cholesterol above 180 mg/dl, and age groups above 40 years.

Prevalence (%) of metabolic syndrome by socio-demographic characteristics

Clinical characteristics of study participants

Percentage distribution of participants by number of metabolic syndrome criteria and age-group

Discussion

Almost a third of the university personnel have metabolic syndrome and therefore they are at higher risk for both cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus. The number of metabolic syndrome criteria, and, therefore, the risk of acquiring chronic diseases, increases with age. Similar studies are required among a wider range of subjects to assess the scope of the problem in Saudi Arabia.