BACKGROUND
Metabolic syndrome is one of the major public health problems worldwide and it is an independent predictor of cardiovascular disease in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
OBJECTIVE
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its individual components among patients with T2DM.
METHODS
A cross-sectional design was conducted among patients diagnosed with T2DM at the National Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Jordan. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and clinical data were extracted from medical records. The National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) and International Diabetes Federation (IDF) diagnostic criteria were used to define metabolic syndrome.
RESULTS
A total of 1017 participants aged between 22-90 year were included in the study. The overall prevalence of the IDF defined metabolic syndrome was 84.2% (72.5% among males and 96.2% among females). Using ATP III criteria, the overall prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 79.1 (77.4% among males and 80.8% among females). Increased age, female gender, not adherent to diet regimen, sedentary lifestyle or insufficient physical activity, and duration of diabetes ≥ 10 year were significantly associated with increased odds of metabolic syndrome, regardless of definition used. Current smoking status and family history of cardiovascular diseases were significantly associated with increased likelihood of ATP III defined metabolic syndrome.
CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with diabetes is extremely high. The main modifiable risk factors of metabolic syndrome among patients with diabetes include non-adherence to diet regimen, insufficient physical activity, overweight or obesity and smoking. It is recommended that healthcare providers council patients on the importance of maintaining physical activity, quitting smoking and adherence to diet regimen.