Metabolic syndrome among adults attending obesity clinics in Kuwait

ABSTRACT

Was to determine the main characteristics of adults attending obesity clinics in Kuwait and the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome [MS] among them. The study design is cross sectional one using data collected from 617 adults aged 15 years and over attending two obesity clinics in primary health care centers during April - May 2007 in Kuwait. The metabolic variables analyzed were fasting blood glucose [FBS], high density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL], and triglycerides [TG]. In addition, measurements of obesity such as body mass index [BMI], and waist circumference [WC] as well as blood pressure were taken. Six hundred seventeen apparently healthy men arid women were recruited for participation in this study. Weight, height, waist girth, and blood pressure were recorded using standard procedures. Blood samples were taken after an overnight fasting and analyzed. The study revealed that the majority of adults attending the selected clinics were suffering from obesity [74.2%]. Abnormal physical and biochemical measurement were encountered among 86.5% of the participants for WC, 34.0% for diabetes, 63.5% for HDL, 25.6 for TG and 45.9% for high blood pressure. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 46.8%. Comparing the main characteristics of the MS and non-MS subjects showed significant differences in almost all the variables except for nationality and smoking. Female gender, increased age, obesity and sedentary life style were significantly associated with MS. Metabolic syndrome is present in 46.8% patients aged 15 years and over. Low HDL, hypertriglyceridemia, obesity, increasead waist circumference, and high blood pressure were the most prevalent associated factors in this study