ORIGINAL: Prevalence and Predictors of Metabolic Syndrome among Adults in North-Central, Nigeria

West Afr J Med . 2022 Apr 29;39(4):375-380

Abstract

Abstract  in English, French

Background: Metabolic syndrome contributes to the burden of non-communicable diseases and is a growing public health problem in both developed and developing countries. We determined the prevalence and predictors of metabolic syndrome among adults in Benue State, North-Central, Nigeria to guide targeted interventions.

Methods: We conducted a community-based cross-sectional study in Benue State, North-Central, Nigeria. Multistage sampling technique was used to recruit 823 respondents. We defined metabolic syndrome using the National Cholesterol Education Programme Adult Treatment Panel III guideline and adapted a component of the WHO Stepwise questionnaire for data collection. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the associated risk factors were estimated using Chi square test and logistic regression at 5% level of significance. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS version 23.0.

Results: The mean age of the respondents was 40.1± 15.7 years. Most of the respondents were literate (86.8%) and married (67.0%). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 19.4%. One in every four of the respondents had pre-metabolic syndrome (25.6%) and this was more in females (28.2%) compared to males (22.9%). Thirty-four percent of the respondents had only one whereas 20.7% did not have any of the risk factors for metabolic syndrome. Age [aOR:10.3; 95%CI: 4.8-22.2], sex [aOR:2.4; 95% CI: 1.7-3.5] and education [aOR:2.9; 95%CI: 1.4-6.1] were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome among the respondents.

Conclusion: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was high. The associated risk factors were age, gender and educational status. Therefore, interventions should be targeted at young adults to reduce the long-term impact of the disease.

Keywords: Metabolic syndrome; Nigeria; Prevalence; Risk factors

D Osunkwo ^1 2, A Mohammed ^3 4, M Kamateeka ², P Nguku ², C D Umeokonkwo ^2 5, O S Abolade ⁶, M Ibrahim ⁷, K Ibrahim ⁴, H Nwokeukwu ⁸, A I Zoakah ⁴