Lifestyle Factors Associated with Metabolic Syndrome in Urban Cambodia

Abstract

This study aimed to identify lifestyle factors associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) in urban Cambodia. In this cross-sectional study, we used existing health checkup data from a private hospital in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The participants comprised 5459 Cambodians aged ≥20 years who underwent health checkups between 2017 and 2019. The harmonized diagnostic definition was used as the MetS criteria. The prevalence of MetS was 56.6% overall, 60.4% in men and 52.6% in women. The lifestyle factor significantly associated with MetS in both sexes were “eating quicker than others”, (men: odds ratio [OR]= 2.25, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.68–3.03, women: OR = 1.92, 95%CI = 1.41–2.60), “walking faster than others”, (men: OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.67–0.92, women: OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.62–0.89) and “drinking alcohol” (men: OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.10–1.61, women: OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.09–1.62). Other significant associations with MetS for men was “eating speed is normal”, (OR = 1.73, 95%CI = 1.30–2.31), and, for women, “eating food after dinner at least 3 days a week”, (OR = 1.25, 95%CI = 1.01–1.55), “skipping breakfast at least 3 days a week”, (OR = 0.83, 95%CI = 0.69–0.99) and “getting enough rest from sleep” (OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.01–1.42) were significantly associated with MetS. Lifestyle interventions through health education and guidance may be effective in preventing MetS in Cambodia.