Change in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a population of medical students: 6-year follow-up

Abstract

Students of a university hospital were assessed in 2007 and later in 2013 to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome. Statistical analysis was done with SPSS version 17.0.A total of 213 students were evaluated in both 2007 and 2013 (48.3 % women and 51.7 % men). The diagnosis of overweight and obesity increased from 24.9 to 37.1 % (p < 0.05), central obesity from 17.8 to 28.6 % (p < 0.05), and prevalence of metabolic syndrome from 9.8 to 14.5 % (p ≥ 0.05); up to 20 % in male gender. It is important to implement programs for early diagnosis of metabolic syndrome.

Metabolic Syndrome Among Young Health Professionals in the Multicenter Latin America Metabolic Syndrome Study

“…14,17,18,40 One of those studies was the CARMELA (Cardiovascular Risk Factor Multiple Evaluation in Latin America) multicenter study that evaluated general populations in seven Latin American cities. 14 The MS prevalence found in this study was close to the prevalence rates reported in a sample of health professionals in Brazil (12.8%) 30 and among medical students in Mexico (14.5%) 31 and Ecuador (7.5%). 33 Nonetheless, the overall MS frequency found in this study was lower than the frequencies observed in young people (20-39 years) within the general population (23.8%) 16,20 and in health professionals who worked at health institutions in Mexico (>30%), [25][26][27][28][29] and lower than the 25.8% reported in another multicenter study on South American cities (subjects 35-44 years old).…”

“…[26][27][28] However, the frequency of AO observed in this study is higher than that reported in university students in the United States (22%) 43 and in medical students from Mexico (17.8%). 31 Moreover, the frequency of AO in this study was less than the frequencies observed in medical students from Ecuador (43.2%) 33 and in young health professionals (74.6% younger than 40 years) in Brazil (55.4%). 30 However, the frequency of low HDL-C in our study was higher than that observed in university students from the United States (12.6%) 43 and in young Brazilian health professionals (23.8%) 30 ; and it was lower than the frequency reported in Ecuadorian medical students (31.8%) 33 and in medical students from Mexico (59.1%).…”

“…Studies in Mexico suggest that the prevalence of MS within this population (mainly in the fields of medicine and nursing) may be comparable to its prevalence within the general population (>20%). [25][26][27][28][29] Among health professionals in Brazil 30 and medical students in Mexico, 31 Venezuela, 32 and Ecuador, 33 prevalence rates under 15% have been reported based on a variety of diagnostic criteria.…”

“…31 In addition, AO and low HDL-C are independent risk factors for the development of CVD. 41,42 These two components were also the most frequently reported MS components in other studies on general populations in Latin American countries such as Mexico, 16,19 Venezuela, 17 Argentina, Chile, and Uruguay, 15 in addition to university students in the United States, 43 medical students in Ecuador 33 and Mexico, 31 and health professionals in Brazil 30 and Mexico. [26][27][28] However, the frequency of AO observed in this study is higher than that reported in university students in the United States (22%) 43 and in medical students from Mexico (17.8%).…”

Association of metabolic syndrome and its components with arterial stiffness in Caucasian subjects of the MARK study: a cross-sectional trial

“…Studies have investigated the relationship of MetS and its components with baPWV [7, 22–24]. Most have reported increased baPWV in subjects with MetS or with a greater number of MetS components.…”