ABSTRACT

This cross-sectional study assessed metabolic syndrome in purposively selected patients attending Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia. Participants were 366 patients (156 males and 210 females) older than 20 years. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information on sociodemographic characteristics, dietary intake, and biochemical assessment (use of assays for fasting lipid profile and blood glucose). Anthropometry. and blood pressure readings were measured using standard instruments. The diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome were the presence of at least three of the following: diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and Central obesity (waist hip ratio or body mass index > 30 kg/m?. Data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages, means (standard deviation), and t-test were used to compare the means between components of metabolic syndromes. The strength of relationships was determined using Pearson's correlation coefficient. Significant differences/relationships were judged at P< 0.01. Almost half (49.7%) of the patients had up to tertiary education, and 18% earned less than N20, 000. The prevalence of obesity using body mass index was 35.2% and 51.9%, while central obesity using waist hip rastio was 21.8% and 35.7% in both males and females respectively. Fasting blood sugar revealed that only 10.3% and 10% were diabetic males and females respectively. The fasting lipid profile status showed that only a few patients had dyslipidemia with the following at- risk profile; High Density Lipoprotein: 89.7% and 85.7%, Triglyceride status: 3.8% and 2.9% , Total cholesterol: 6.4% and 7.1%, and Low Density Lipoprotein: 3.2% and 4.8% for both males and females, respectively. The blood pressure readings revealed those that were hypertensive at different stages, 44.9% and 48. I% stage 1 and 11.5% and 18.6% stage 2 for both males and females, respectively. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 9% and 10% for males and females, respectively. The most occurring metabolic component was hypertension (51%), followed by obesity (40%), diabetes (32%) and hyperlipidemia (3%). The food frequency checklist showed low consumption of fruits and confectionaries (snack and beverages). Assessment of nutrient intakes showed that the calories, carbohydrates, fats, calcium, sodium and fiber values for almost all the different age groups were lower than the Recommended Nutrient Intake (RNI). Iron intake met the RNI for the different age categories except for those within 40-49 years who had slightly low values for the males. Number of disease conditions in the family and number of family/relative with the disease conditions was positively associated with risk of developing metabolic syndrome and its components (P<0.01). There were no significant difference between nutnent mtakes and anthropometric characteristics of the patients. The study showed that metabolic syndrome was prevalent among few ( 13. 7%) of the respondents. It is worthy to note that family history is a strong determinant of metabolic syndrome. It is therefore imperative to tackle this health problem which is of public health importance and the drive should be geared towards the family as first point of screening which needs intervention>