Abstract
BackgroundTo determine the gender-dependent association of socio-economic status variables with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the adult Saudi population.MethodsA total of 9164 adult Saudis (aged 18–70 years) were included in this cross-sectional study. Marital status, income, education, and occupation were used as socio-economic indicators while behavioral factor like physical exercise was also taken into account. MetS was defined using the criteria based from the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III).ResultsIn males, the odds ratio (OR) of harboring MetS was higher in married [OR1.6 (Confidence Interval (CI) 1.1, 2.4); p < 0.03], and high income class [OR 2.3(CI 1.5, 3.5); p < 0.001] and lowest in retired and unemployed individuals [1.4(1.0, 1.9); p < 0.04, 0.61(0.45, 0.82); p < 0.001] respectively. In females, MetS was inversely related to high income [OR 0.70 (CI 0.46, 1.1); p < 0.09] and education level [OR 0.38 (CI 0.26, 0.56); p < 0.001], and was significantly higher in the unemployed class [OR 1.6 (CI 1.2, 2.2); p < 0.004].ConclusionsThe prevalence of MetS is significantly high among retired, married and high-earning Saudi males while in females, high earners and high education seem to confer a protective effect against MetS.
Highlights
To determine the gender-dependent association of socio-economic status variables with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the adult Saudi population
MetS was inversely related to high income [odds ratio (OR) 0.70 (CI 0.46, 1.1); p < 0.09] and education level [OR 0.38 (CI 0.26, 0.56); p < 0.001], and was significantly higher in the unemployed class [OR 1.6 (CI 1.2, 2.2); p < 0.004]
Based on the results of several studies and taking into consideration the different definitions, the prevalence of MetS in Gulf Cooperative Council (GCC) (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates) countries varies from 20.7–37.2% [ATPIII definition [6] and 29.6–36.2% [International Diabetes Federation
Summary
To determine the gender-dependent association of socio-economic status variables with the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in the adult Saudi population. Metabolic syndrome (MetS), considered to be a global epidemic [1], encompasses several risk factors including obesity, elevated arterial blood pressure, impaired glucose metabolism, and dyslipidemia. If it remains unchecked, it could lead towards higher susceptibility to type 2 diabetes, some cancers and cardiovascular disease [2,3,4,5]. A number of studies strongly link the socio-economic status with prevalence of MetS in different populations [20,21]. As an initial preventive approach to understand and manage the occurrence of MetS, it appears warranted to study the social and economic variables that could lead towards its high prevalence [24,25]
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