Assessment of Metabolic Syndrome among the Undergraduate Students of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos

Abstract

Background: Subjects with Metabolic syndrome (MetS) have three-fold risk of a heart attack or stroke, two-fold risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) or dying from such events, and five-fold greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus in both sexes when compared to people without it. It is advisable to know the prevalence of MetS in any population so that adequate care and counseling can be given early to reduce the economy burden and the mortality.

Objective: This stud was carried out to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome amongst undergraduate students of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos, using the WHO recommended values and the National Cholesterol Education ProgramAdult Treatment Panel ill (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. This study will generate data on the prevalence of MetS among the young adult male and female population providing information that becomes useful in taking informed decision about the health care delivery to the student population of the College.

Materials and Methods: One hundred and twenty (120) undergraduate students of the College of Medicine, University of Lagos were selected at random from among the student population for this study after they gave their consent to participate in the study. Blood samples were collected from the students and used to determine their lipid profile and fasting blood glucose. Body weight, height, blood pressure, BMI and waist circumference were also determined.

Results: The result of this study showed that the serum triglyceride level for the male students was 88.57 ± 12.47 mg/dl and that of the female was 64.95 ± 5.02 mgldl, the HDL level for the male and female students are 46.40 ± 1.51 mgldl and 48.98 ± 2.38 mgldl respectively, and the LDL was 129.67 ± 7.97 and 129.15 ± 7.27 mgldl between the male and female students respectively. Antherogenic index of plasma and atherogenic coefficient in male were 0.25 ± 0.05 and 3.20 ± 0.17 respectively while in the female the values were 0.11 ± 0.03 and 2.95 ± 0.17 respectively. The calculated Castelli's risk index I and II for male group was 4.20 ± 0.17 and 2.81 ± 017 respectively while in female group it was 3.95 ± 0.17 and 2.68 ± 0.16 respectively. The fasting blood glucose benchmarks of the male and female students were 77.50 ± 2.67 mgldl and 79.29 ± 1.58 mgldl. The average waist circumferences of the male and female students were 30.08 ± 0.81 inches and 30.48 ± 1.43 inches. The average systolic blood pressure of the male students was 126.36 ± 1.72 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure was 71.02 ± 2.41 mmHg while the average systolic blood pressure for the female students was 119.21 ± 2.39 mmHg and diastolic was 72.29 ± 2.01 mmHg. The result showed a significant difference in the measured parameters when compared with the WHO and NCEP: ATPIII criteria for assessing metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion: None of the identifiers ofMetS were positive in the sampled students, reflecting their healthy status and the absence of metabolic syndrome among the population studied.