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 cardio vascular 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 19.8and 20.9respectively while they were 34.2and 31.6respectively at the other centre. The prevalence of low HDL-cholesterol was very high at both centres (78.3at one centre and 92.1at the other). Metabolic syndrome is most prevalent in females and older subjects. Conclusion: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (19.8and 20.9; unadjusted and age-adjusted; respectively) were lower at one centre than the other (34.2and 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; 95CI 0.99-45.55)