relative risk of metabolic syndrome components in Nigerians: The adult treatment panel III definition

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is increasing in all populations worldwide and is associated with a substantially elevated risk of type 2 diabetes (5-fold) and of cardiovascular disease (2-3 fold). Metabolic syndrome is now established as a simple means of identifying individuals at increased risk of future cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adult Nigerians attending Family Medicine Clinics at two health facilities in Rivers State, Nigeria and to determine how much each diagnostic criterion contributed to the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

Methods: Subjects were bled after an overnight fast, and venous blood obtained for lipid studies and fasting blood glucose estimation. Measurements were made to determine height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was based on  the  National  Cholesterol Education Project: Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) definition.

Results: The unadjusted and age-adjusted prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome at one centre were 19.8% and 20.9% respectively while they were 34.2% and 31.6% respectively at the other centre. The prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol was very high at both centres (78.3% at one centre and 92.1% at the other). Metabolic syndrome is most prevalent in females and older subjects.

Conclusion: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (19.8% and 20.9%, unadjusted and age-adjusted, respectively) were lower at one centre than the other (34.2% and 31.6%, unadjusted and age-adjusted, respectively). Despite the very high prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol, the relative risk for metabolic syndrome was not statistical significant (RR=6.73; 95% CI: 0.99-45.55).

Key words: Metabolic syndrome, Prevalence, Adult Treatment Panel III, Adults, Nigeria