Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence in Healthy Individuals in University Of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (Upth), Port Harcourt

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of metabolic risk factors characterized by insulin resistance. It promotes the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and/or type 2 diabetes. There has been a consistent increase in its prevalence globally, which has paralleled that of obesity and type 2 diabetes. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in apparently healthy individuals in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital using the revised National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III; 2005) and World Health Organization (WHO; 1999) definitions. Metabolic syndrome risk factors and prevalence were evaluated in 267 non-diabetic, apparently healthy individuals selected from the hospital environment. According to the ATP III and WHO definitions respectively, the overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 15.7% and 10.9%. The prevalence increased markedly with age and peaked in the age range of 50-59 years with both definitions. With the ATP III and WHO definitions, sex-specific prevalence rates were 21.5% and 12.5% for females and, 8.9% and 8.9% for males respectively. High blood pressure was the most frequent component of metabolic syndrome with the ATP III definition while obesity was the most frequent component with the WHO definition. The ATP III definition gave a higher prevalence than the WHO definition and thus identifies a greater number of individuals at high risk of CVD and T2D. By managing these individuals at this early stage the public health burden of these diseases can be reduced.