Prevalence and sex-specific patterns of metabolic syndrome in rural Uganda
Background and aims In sub-Saharan Africa, infectious diseases are still the leading causes of mortality; however, this may soon be surpassed by non-communicable illnesses, namely hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study determined the prevalence and patterns of metabolic syndro...
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BMJ Publishing Group
2020-06-01
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| Series: | BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health |
| Online Access: | https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/3/1/11.full |
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| author | Silver Bahendeka Limor Ben-Yacov Pearl Ainembabazi Aliza Hannah Stark Samuel Kizito |
| author_facet | Silver Bahendeka Limor Ben-Yacov Pearl Ainembabazi Aliza Hannah Stark Samuel Kizito |
| author_sort | Silver Bahendeka |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and aims In sub-Saharan Africa, infectious diseases are still the leading causes of mortality; however, this may soon be surpassed by non-communicable illnesses, namely hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study determined the prevalence and patterns of metabolic syndrome and cardio-risk factors in men and women in rural Uganda.Methods A household-based, cross-sectional survey was carried out following the WHO STEP-wise approach to surveillance. It included demographic and lifestyle questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and biochemical analyses. Of the 200 randomly recruited participants, 183 successfully completed two steps of the study and 161 provided blood samples.Results Data were collected from 183 adults, aged 18–69 years; 62% were female. Based on the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel-III criteria, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 19.1% (95% CI 14.0 to 22.5). Elevated fasting plasma glucose was observed in 14.2% (95% CI 9.1 to 19.3) of participants, hypertriglyceridaemia in 16.9% (95% CI 12.1 to 23.1); hypertension in 36.1% (95% CI 29.0 to 43.0) and 52.5% (95% CI 45.2 to 59.6) had low HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Abdominal obesity was found in 24.6% (95% CI 18.8 to 31.4) of participants. Sex disparities were significant for several risk factors. Females had significantly higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (38.6% vs 1.5% in males, p=0.001) and twice the rates of low HDL (65.8% vs 30.4%, p=0.001). Men tended to have higher but not significant rates of hypertension (42.0% vs 32.5%) and smoked significantly more than women (49.3% vs 21.1%, p<0.001). Alcohol consumption was also higher in men (55.1% vs 18.4%, p<0.001) and quantities consumed were approximately three times greater than in females (p<0.001).Conclusion Metabolic syndrome exists at worrying rates in the rural Ugandan population. Sex disparities are evident in risk factor prevalence, reflecting physiological variables and deeply entrenched cultural and lifestyle norms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-de9b713a2c854c88b76a755cd5d2ef7f |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2516-5542 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
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| series | BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-de9b713a2c854c88b76a755cd5d2ef7f2025-08-20T02:09:54ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health2516-55422020-06-013110.1136/bmjnph-2019-000050Prevalence and sex-specific patterns of metabolic syndrome in rural UgandaSilver Bahendeka0Limor Ben-Yacov1Pearl Ainembabazi2Aliza Hannah Stark3Samuel Kizito43 Medical School, Uganda Martyrs University, Kampala, Uganda1 School of Nutritional Sciences and the International School of Agricultural Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel1 School of Nutritional Sciences and the International School of Agricultural Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel1 School of Nutritional Sciences and the International School of Agricultural Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel2 Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, UgandaBackground and aims In sub-Saharan Africa, infectious diseases are still the leading causes of mortality; however, this may soon be surpassed by non-communicable illnesses, namely hypertension, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. This study determined the prevalence and patterns of metabolic syndrome and cardio-risk factors in men and women in rural Uganda.Methods A household-based, cross-sectional survey was carried out following the WHO STEP-wise approach to surveillance. It included demographic and lifestyle questionnaires, anthropometric measurements and biochemical analyses. Of the 200 randomly recruited participants, 183 successfully completed two steps of the study and 161 provided blood samples.Results Data were collected from 183 adults, aged 18–69 years; 62% were female. Based on the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel-III criteria, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 19.1% (95% CI 14.0 to 22.5). Elevated fasting plasma glucose was observed in 14.2% (95% CI 9.1 to 19.3) of participants, hypertriglyceridaemia in 16.9% (95% CI 12.1 to 23.1); hypertension in 36.1% (95% CI 29.0 to 43.0) and 52.5% (95% CI 45.2 to 59.6) had low HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol. Abdominal obesity was found in 24.6% (95% CI 18.8 to 31.4) of participants. Sex disparities were significant for several risk factors. Females had significantly higher prevalence of abdominal obesity (38.6% vs 1.5% in males, p=0.001) and twice the rates of low HDL (65.8% vs 30.4%, p=0.001). Men tended to have higher but not significant rates of hypertension (42.0% vs 32.5%) and smoked significantly more than women (49.3% vs 21.1%, p<0.001). Alcohol consumption was also higher in men (55.1% vs 18.4%, p<0.001) and quantities consumed were approximately three times greater than in females (p<0.001).Conclusion Metabolic syndrome exists at worrying rates in the rural Ugandan population. Sex disparities are evident in risk factor prevalence, reflecting physiological variables and deeply entrenched cultural and lifestyle norms.https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/3/1/11.full |
| spellingShingle | Silver Bahendeka Limor Ben-Yacov Pearl Ainembabazi Aliza Hannah Stark Samuel Kizito Prevalence and sex-specific patterns of metabolic syndrome in rural Uganda BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health |
| title | Prevalence and sex-specific patterns of metabolic syndrome in rural Uganda |
| title_full | Prevalence and sex-specific patterns of metabolic syndrome in rural Uganda |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and sex-specific patterns of metabolic syndrome in rural Uganda |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and sex-specific patterns of metabolic syndrome in rural Uganda |
| title_short | Prevalence and sex-specific patterns of metabolic syndrome in rural Uganda |
| title_sort | prevalence and sex specific patterns of metabolic syndrome in rural uganda |
| url | https://nutrition.bmj.com/content/3/1/11.full |
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