Qatar's Silent Epidemic: A Comprehensive Meta-analysis on the Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Metabolic syndrome comprises various conditions like abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, elevated triglyceride levels, reduced HDL, and high blood pressure, which pose significant health challenges globally. It's imperative to determine its prevalence in specific populations to formulate effective preventive measures.

OBJECTIVE

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Qatari population.

METHODS

Using the PRISMA guidelines, a systematic search was executed on PubMed until July 2023 with keywords "Metabolic syndrome" and "Qatar." Eligibility criteria included human subjects, studies assessing metabolic syndrome components, and research conducted in Qatar or on Qatari subjects. The quality of the studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS). Pooled prevalence rates were calculated using the inverse variance weighting metaanalysis.

RESULTS

Out of 237 studies, 14 met our inclusion criteria, with a combined sample size of 14,772 from the Qatari population. The overall pooled prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 26%. The ATP III and IDF criteria exhibited significant differences in prevalence rates, with the IDF criteria showing a higher prevalence. Age ≥ 40 years demonstrated a higher prevalence compared to the younger group. Studies post-2018 reported a decreasing trend in metabolic syndrome prevalence.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Qatari population is comparable to rates in the Middle East. The study underscores the need for tailored interventions and strategies, especially targeting the older age group. Continuous research and monitoring are essential to track and understand the disease's progression in Qatar.

Discordance of metabolic syndrome and abdominal obesity prevalence according to different criteria in Andean highlanders: A community-based study

AIMS

There is no consensus as to which Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) definition to use for South-American populations. The aim of this study is to compare the prevalence of MetS and abdominal obesity using different criteria in Andean adults aged 40 and older living permanently at high altitude.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study in Chivay (Andean highlands). 237 participants were included. Anthropometric measurements, glucose and lipid assessments were done in all subjects. Adult Treatment Panel III (ATPIII) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria for MetS were used. Abdominal obesity prevalence was determined using the American Diabetes Association (ADA), IDF, and PREVENCION Study criteria. Cohen's Kappa coefficient (κ) was analyzed to assess agreement level between different criteria. Multiple regression analyses were performed to find predictors for waist circumference.

RESULTS

MetS was identified in 28.7% (95%CI=23.8-33.5) using ATPIII criteria, and 37.9% (95%CI=32.7-43.0) using IDF criteria, with higher prevalence in women. The κ statistics for agreement between both criteria was 0.775 (95%CI=0.690-0.859). Abdominal obesity prevalence according to ADA, IDF, and PREVENCION criteria was 35.9% (95%CI=29.7-42.0), 75.9% (95%CI=70.5-81.4), and 42.6% (95%CI=36.3-49.0), respectively. Agreement between ADA and PREVENCION criteria was highest (κ=0.859, 95%CI=0.792-0.925). The strongest predictors for higher waist circumference values were triglycerides and BMI in women, and systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, fasting plasma glucose, and HDL-cholesterol in men.

CONCLUSIONS

MetS according to ATP III and IDF criteria was highly prevalent. IDF criteria identified a larger number of subjects with MetS. Different abdominal obesity criteria tended to show variation when applied to our sample population.

Metabolic issues in schizophrenic patients receiving antipsychotic treatment

Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder with a complex pathophysiology and requires treatment that includes long term administration of antipsychotics that is said to be associated with metabolic syndrome. This study was designed to evaluate the impact of seven different antipsychotics prescribed to schizophrenic patients, on development of metabolic syndrome in the patients. A total of 210 patients with schizophrenia (30 patients in each drug therapy group) were recruited according to ICD-10 criteria and were assigned to receive the drug for 16 weeks. Measurement of anthropometric (body weight, waist circumference, blood pressure) and biochemical parameters (glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR, triglycerides, LDL, HDL) was done and the patients were subjected to ATP-III defined criteria for metabolic syndrome. Patients undergoing treatment with olanzapine were more prone to metabolic syndrome as the drug induces weight gain after 16 weeks of treatment. It also induces dyslipidemia (P < 0.001) and hyperglycemia (P < 0.01). Clozapine was found to be second most potent drug in inducing metabolic syndrome as the weight in clozapine treated patients increased after 16 weeks, along with a significant increase in glycemic (P < 0.001) and lipid parameters (P < 0.01). Aripriazole and amisulphride are comparatively safer drugs as their role in inducing metabolic abnormalities in schizophrenic patients was insignificant, although the impact of long term administration of these drugs needs to be explored. It is clear from the study that antipsychotic treatment induces metabolic syndrome so, it becomes important that the metabolic and cardiovascular risk factors should be surveillance regularly in schizophrenic patients undergoing antipsychotic treatment.

Changes in predicted cardiovascular disease risk after biliopancreatic diversion surgery in severely obese patients

OBJECTIVE

To determine the impact of biliopancreatic diversion with duodenal switch (BPD-DS) surgery on cardiovascular risk profile and predicted cardiovascular risk in severely obese patients.

MATERIALS/METHODS

We compared 1-year follow-up anthropometric and metabolic profiles in severely obese who underwent BPD-DS (n = 73) with controls (severely obese without surgery) (n =3 3). The 10-year predicted risk for coronary heart disease (CHD) was estimated using the Framingham risk-tool. We assigned 10-year and lifetime predicted risks to stratify subjects into 3 groups: 1) high short-term predicted risk (≥ 10% 10-year risk or diagnosed diabetes), 2) low short-term (<10% 10-year risk)/low lifetime predicted risk or 3) low short-term/high lifetime predicted risk.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, body weight and body mass index decreased markedly in the surgical group (-52.1 ± 1.9 kg and -19.0 ± 0.6 kg/m(2) respectively, p<0.001) vs. (-0.7 ± 1.0 kg and -0.3 ± 0.4 kg/m(2), p = 0.51). Weight loss in the surgical group was associated with a reduction in HbA1C (6.2% vs. 5.1%), HOMA-IR (61.5 vs. 9.3), all lipoprotein levels, as well as blood pressure (p<0.001). The 10-year CHD predicted risk decreased by 43% in women and 33% in men, whereas the estimated CHD risk in the non surgical group did not change. Before surgery, none of the women and only 18% of men showed low short-term/low lifetime predicted risk, whereas a significant proportion of subjects had high short-term predicted risk (36% in women and 12% in men). Following surgery, 52% of women and 55% of men have a low short-term/low lifetime predicted risk.

CONCLUSIONS

These results highlight the cardiovascular benefits of BPD-DS and suggest a positive impact on predicted CHD risk in severely obese patients. Long-term studies are needed to confirm our results and to ascertain the effects on CHD risk estimates after BPD-DS surgery.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels, obesity and the metabolic syndrome among Korean children

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Evidence of the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and cardiovascular risk factors in children is limited. We investigated the associations between serum vitamin D levels (25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]) and obesity and metabolic syndrome and its components in Korean children.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We recruited 1660, nine-year-old, Korean children (904 boys and 756 girls) who voluntarily participated in this study while being examined during school-based health examinations. We measured anthropometric variables (height and weight), metabolic parameters (blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, and HDL cholesterol levels) and serum vitamin D levels. We analyzed the data using multivariate logistic regression models. Mean 25(OH)D levels were lower in children defined as obese or abdominally obese (P <0.001). When serum levels of 25(OH)D were divided into quartiles, BMI, waist circumference, and triglyceride levels were lower, and HDL cholesterol levels were higher, as vitamin D levels increased. Using children from the highest quartile of 25(OH)D levels as a referent, the adjusted ORs (95% CI) for obesity in those in the third, second, and lowest quartiles of 25(OH)D levels were 1.55 (1.01-2.40), 1.87 (1.22-2.85), and 2.59 (1.71-3.90), respectively (P for trend <0.001). For abdominal obesity the ORs (CI) were 2.08 (1.20-3.60), 2.32 (1.36-3.95), and 2.96 (1.75-5.00) (P for trend<0.001), and for metabolic syndrome they were 2.60 (1.08-6.30), 4.00 (1.73-9.26), and 4.25 (1.84-9.85), respectively (P for trend <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

We found low vitamin D levels in Korean children to be associated with obesity and metabolic syndrome. Insufficient serum vitamin D levels in children may be a risk factor of obesity and metabolic syndrome.