Original Research

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adults treated at a district hospital outpatient department

Cara van Jaarsveldt, Tlholohelo Jabari, Elrine Zwarts, Simone Färber, Yothando Sikuza, Heinrich Schilling, Sebastiaan Pauw, Elizabeth Klein, Cornel van Rooyen, Gina Joubert, Chantelle C. van der Bijl
South African Family Practice | Vol 66, No 1 : Part 4| a5959 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v66i1.5959 | © 2024 Cara van Jaarsveldt, Tlholohelo Jabari, Elrine Zwarts, Simone Färber, Yothando Sikuza, Heinrich Schilling, Sebastiaan Pauw, Elizabeth Klein, Cornel van Rooyen, Gina Joubert, Chantelle C. van der Bijl | This work is licensed under CC Attribution 4.0
Submitted: 11 April 2024 | Published: 30 September 2024

About the author(s)

Cara van Jaarsveldt, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Tlholohelo Jabari, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Elrine Zwarts, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Simone Färber, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Yothando Sikuza, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Heinrich Schilling, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Sebastiaan Pauw, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Elizabeth Klein, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Cornel van Rooyen, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Gina Joubert, Department of Biostatistics, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
Chantelle C. van der Bijl, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa

Abstract

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a collection of risk factors, including hypertension, high fasting blood glucose, high fasting triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels that may increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS among adults attending a Free State district hospital’s outpatient department.

Methods: A cross-sectional study included a consecutive sample of consenting patients 18 years and older from 18 October 2021 to 19 November 2021. Patients’ waist circumference was measured, and data were extracted from patients’ files.

Results: The 409 participants were predominantly females (64.2%). The median age was 60 years. Triglyceride and HDL cholesterol levels were available for 27.4% and 26.9% of patients, respectively. Of the 278 (68.0%) patients with sufficient information to determine their MetS status, 187 (67.3%) had MetS. Of the males with sufficient information, 49.1% (n = 56/114) had MetS compared to 79.9% (n = 131/164) of the females with sufficient information (p < 0.001). The age group 60–79 years had the highest prevalence (76.7%, p < 0.001). In all race groups, at least two-thirds of patients had MetS (p = 0.831).

Conclusion: Incomplete patient notes and failure to do investigations led to a third of patients not having sufficient information to determine their MetS status. In patients with sufficient information, a high prevalence of MetS was found.

Contribution: This study highlights the challenges of determining MetS retrospectively in an outpatient population and the need for completeness of medical note keeping and routine investigations in high-risk patients. It also notes the high prevalence of MetS.


Keywords

metabolic syndrome; non-communicable diseases; hypertension; diabetes; obesity.

Sustainable Development Goal

Goal 3: Good health and well-being

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