Effect of smoking, alcohol and exercise on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a cohort of Royal Jordanian Air Pilots

ABSTRACT

To assess whether smoking, alcohol intake and exercise cofounders have an impact on the development of metabolic syndrome in a Jordanian cohort of air pilots. A random sample of 111 subjects serving at Royal Jordanian Air Force were recruited at the routine annual examination. Complete history and physical exam was done. The criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III were used to define features of metabolic syndrome. Waist and hip circumference and height were measured to nearest centimeter, body weight to the nearest kilogram. Blood pressure was taken after 10 minutes of rest. Blood was drawn in fasting state for complete kidney function test, liver function test, lipid profile and fasting blood sugar. The cohort was divided into groups according to exercise, alcohol intake and smoking habit and comparison among groups was performed. Metabolic syndrome in Jordan ranges from 19-36% in different studies. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in air pilots was 15.3%. Mean age was 32.5 +/- 7.2 years. There were 72 smokers of 17.3 +/- 5.4 cigarettes/day for a duration of 10.3+ 6.7 years. Thirteen subjects consume alcohol on social basis and 58 subjects who do regular excises of a mean of 3 sessions per week. There was no difference in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among all groups studied as well as for components of metabolic syndrome. Smokers were having a statistically significant higher rates of low HDL-C vs. non smokers [47.2% vs. 23.1%, p=0.0012; OR=2.98[95% CI 1.15-7.9] RR =2.05 [95% CI1.1-3.81] and their mean HDL-C level was lower [42.3 +/- 10.1 vs. 48.1 +/- 12.5] for non smokers [p= 0.0041].The systolic blood pressure and body weight were significantly lower in the smoker group. Smoking, alcohol intake and exercise as confounders did not affect the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this cohort. Smoking has a significant impact on low HDL-C rates and levels in smokers. Further, larger studies are needed to elicit differences and significant results of these confounders