Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in kidney transplant recipients: A single-center study.

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by a combination of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and alterations in glucose homeostasis). Insulin resistance is suggested to be the common pathogenic background. This syndrome is also a risk factor for diabetes and chronic kidney disease. In renal transplant recipients, MS has been shown to be an independent risk factor for chronic allograft dysfunction, graft failure, new-onset diabetes, and CV disease. We performed a cross-sectional study on 106 stable renal transplant recipients to detect MS between January 2013 and August 2013. This syndrome was diagnosed according to the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Patients with history of diabetes mellitus were excluded from the study. In this group of patients, 56 (52.8%) had MS. There were 32 males (57.1%) and 24 females (42.9%). The mean age of the MS group was significantly higher than the non-MS group. The mean serum creatinine was higher in the MS group than the non-MS group, but there was no significant difference between them (P >0.05). The calculated glomerular filtration rate was also similar in the two groups (P >0.05). The patients with MS had higher body weight (64.61 ± 14.17 kg vs. 58.76 ± 11.70 kg, P <0.05) and also higher body mass index (BMI) (P <0.05). The prevalence of BMI >25 kg/m2 in the MS group was 75% versus 25% in the non-MS group (P <0.05). Since MS is an important and common risk factor in renal transplant recipients, we have to try to prevent it by educating the patients to control it by modifying their lifestyle. Efforts toward promoting healthy diets, physical activity, and blood pressure control must be undertaken.