Assessment of prevalence of metabolic syndrome in abdominal obesity

Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined as a cluster of at least three out of five cardio-metabolic abnormalities which occur concomitantly. The present study was conducted to prevalence of metabolic syndrome in abdominal obesity. Materials & Methods: 174 patients of both genders were included. Height (cm) and weight (kgs) was measured. Waist circumference (WC) was measured. Subjects were classified as having abdominal obesity when the WC was at or above the 90th percentile for age and gender charts. Blood pressure was measured. Results: Out of 174 subjects, males were 90 and females were 84. MS was seen in 10 males and 6 females. There were 13 obese and 3 non- obese. Smoking was present in 9 and absent in 7. Alcoholism was seen in 12 and absent in 4. Hyperglycemia was present in 11 and absent in 5. Hypertriglyceridemia was present in 14 and absent in 2. Low HDL-C was seen in 11 and absent in 5. Hypertension was present in 9 and absent in 7 MS patients. The difference was significant (P< 0.05). Conclusion: There was high prevalence of MS in males as compared to females. Risk factors were smoking, alcoholism, hyperglycemia, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-C and hypertension