Prevalence and associated factors of metabolic syndrome among a national population-based sample of 18–108-year-olds in Iraq: results of the 2015 STEPS survey

Etanercept versus Methotrexate in the Treatment of Psoriasis and Associated Metabolic Syndrome: 12-Month Open-Label Comparative Study

INTRODUCTION

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory systemic disease accompanied by systemic damage that leads to the development of multiple comorbidities including metabolic syndrome. Conventional systemic therapies for psoriasis are associated with toxicity and have a greater burden on the patients. The study aimed to assess the effectiveness of etanercept (ETN) monotherapy in comparison with methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy.

METHODS

In this prospective interventional comparative open-label study, 117 patients with psoriasis were randomized to 2 groups; 1 group of 42 patients; 32 (67.2%) males and 10 (23.8%) females treated with MTX, and the second group of 75 patients; 54 (72%) males and 21 (28%) females treated with ETN. Full laboratory investigations, body mass index (BMI), measurement of skin disease severity which was performed using Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), and the reduction of 75% of the skin lesions (PASI 75) were calculated for all participants.

RESULTS

In the MTX group, there were no significant differences in BMI, or blood pressure after 12 weeks of the study. There is a reduction in the values of FBS, TSC, LDL, TRIG, ESR, CRP, and PASI, but this reduction was statistically not significant. Ten (23.8%) patients achieved PASI 75. In the ETN group, except for BMI, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, all other metabolic syndrome components, inflammatory markers, and PASI were decreased; the reduction was statistically significant. Sixty (80%) patients achieved PASI 75.

CONCLUSION

Etanercept monotherapy showed greater efficacy than MTX monotherapy in the treatment of moderate to severe plaque-type psoriasis as it achieved greater reductions in PASI score and greater achievement of PASI 75 after 12 weeks. Etanercept monotherapy showed greater efficacy than MTX monotherapy in the improvement of all components of the associated metabolic syndrome except for BMI, which was increased in etanercept-treated patients.

National trends in metabolic syndrome among adults in Mongolia from three cross-sectional surveys in 2009, 2013 and 2019

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) may increase the risk of cardiometabolic diseases. The study aimed to estimate the proportion and associated factors of MetS among individuals (≥15 years) across three cross-sectional surveys in 2009, 2013 and 2019 in Mongolia.

METHOD

Cross-sectional data were analysed from 6,321 individuals (15-64/69 years, median age = 42 years) that participated in the 2009, 2013 or 2019 Mongolia STEPS surveys, and had complete MetS (harmonized definition) measurements.

RESULTS

Almost two in five participants (35.6%) had MetS, 33.3% in 2009, 35.3% in 2013, ad 37.0% in 2019 (p-for trend 0.023). In adjusted logistic regression analyses, older age was associated with MetS in 2009 and in 2019, male sex and higher education were associated with MetS in 2013, and urban residence was associated with MetS in 2009. Current tobacco use was associated with MetS in 2009 and 2019, moderate or high physical activity was protective against MetS in 2013 and 2019, while general overweight and obesity increased the odds of MetS in 2009, 2013, and 2019.

CONCLUSION

The study showed that almost two in five adults were identified as having MetS, which significantly increased from 2009 to 2019, and that several predictors of MetS were found.