ABSTRACT
While the burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is still increasing in sub-Saharan Africa, there is a lack of data among young Cameroonian population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of MetS and its components among secondary school students in Douala. This was a cross-sectional prospective study carried out on 803 students recruited from February to May 2021 in public and private secondary schools in Douala city, Cameroon. MetS was assessed according to the IDF/AHA/NHLBI 2009 consensus definition. The data collection consisted of a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, measurement of anthropometric parameters (height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference) and overnight fasting blood sample. Blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were measured using standard methods. The mean age was 18±3 years, 73.3% female. The prevalence of MetS was 27.4%, common among participants aged ≥16 years, and higher in females compare to males (33.7% vs. 11.1%, P#x003C;0.0001). The prevalence of MetS components i.e abdominal obesity, high BP, fasting hyperglycemia, low-level HDL cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia were 14.1, 18.1, 42.8, 51.4 and 38.6% respectively. All MetS components were significantly higher in females compared to males except for high BP which was similar among the genders. In our study population, the prevalence of MetS is high and this calls for improved monitoring to limit the evolution of associated cardiometabolic complications among young Cameroonians.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Worldwide there is an increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome mainly due to life-style modifications, and Africans are not saved of this situation. Many markers have been studied to predict the risk of this syndrome but the most used are leptin and adiponectin. Data on these metabolic markers are scare in Africa and this study aimed to assess the association between the leptin-to-adiponectin ratio (LAR) with metabolic syndrome in a Cameroonian population. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study that included 476 adults among a general population of Cameroon. Data collected concerned the body mass index, waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, plasma lipids, adiponectin, leptin, insulin and homeostasis model for assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). To assess correlations we used Spearman's analyses and association of the studied variables with metabolic syndrome were done using binary logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The leptin to adiponectin ratio was significantly and positively correlated with the body mass index (r = 0.669, p < 0.0001), waist circumference (r = 0.595, p < 0.0001), triglycerides (r = 0.190, p = 0.001), insulin levels (r = 0.333, p < 0.0001) and HOMA-IR (r = 0.306, p < 0.0001). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that leptin, adiponectin and LAR were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome with respective unadjusted OR of 1.429, 0.468 and 1.502. After adjustment, for age and sex, the associations remained significative; LAR was also found to be significantly associated with metabolic syndrome (OR = 1.573, p value =0.000) as well as lower levels of adiponectin (OR = 0.359, p value =0.000) and higher levels of leptin (OR = 1.469, p value =0.001). CONCLUSION: This study revealed that LAR is significantly associated with metabolic syndrome in sub-Saharan African population, independently to age and sex.
