Publication:

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adults in sub-district hospital Akhnoor: a cross sectional study

Background Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is an aggregation of conditions that together increase the risk of cardiovascular disease in individuals, which would not otherwise be recognized. World-wide, its prevalence has been documented as 11-41%. It has become a major public health challenge globally due to rapid urbanization, sedentary lifestyle, and surplus energy intake.

Methods The present hospital-based-study was aimed at finding the prevalence of MetS in people attending OPD of medicine in sub-district hospital Akhnoor, Jammu: from November 2019 to April 2020. Study subjects included both males and females between the age group of 20-60 years attending the medicine OPD. Among the 400 participants, 185 were females and 215 were males. Patients were diagnosed as MetS according to national cholesterol education program adult treatment panel-III (ATP) criteria.

Results About 41.25% of the participants were below 40 years and 58.75% of the participants were above 40 years of age. A very high prevalence of 68.75% MetS was reported among patients, hinting at the changing lifestyle of the people. People of older age and with general obesity are under increased MetS risk. Prevalence among males (67.44%) and females (70.27%) differed only slightly. But our present study tends to suggest an increased risk among females, which is quite significant.

Conclusions Various researchers have associated MetS with depression and chronic diseases, which shows that the population is under graver risk with increased prevalence among masses. The prevalence in >40 years age group is showing rapid and alarming increase. Lifestyle modifications are crucial to the management of MetS.