Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with minor beta thalassemia and its related factors: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundAtherosclerotic disorders, hypertension and lipid profile alterations are of a lower prevalence in patients with minor beta thalassemia. On the other hand, nowadays, metabolic syndrome is considered as one of the major risk factors of developing cardiovascular diseases. Therefore, the present study was performed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with minor beta thalassemia.MethodsIn this case-control study, body length, weight and waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar [FBS], triglyceride, cholesterol, HDL, and LDL levels were determined in 150 patients with minor beta thalassemia and 300 healthy individuals as control group [matched based on age and sex]. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was calculated based on ATPIII criteria. Data were analyzed through SPSS16 software package.ResultsThe prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 12.7% in the thalassemia group and 36.7% in the control group [p < 0.0001]. In the patient group, 3 ones [8.3%] of those with metabolic syndrome were male and 16 ones [14%] were female [p = 0.5]. Mean age of patients with metabolic syndrome was 39.4 ± 8.5 years and mean age of those without metabolic syndrome was 36.4 ± 7.8 years [p = 0.1]. Mean BMI of those with metabolic syndrome was 31.3 ± 4.1 kg/m2 and that of those without metabolic syndrome was 24.2 ± 4.4 kg/m2 [p < 0.0001].ConclusionsThe obtained results show lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with minor thalassemia. Moreover, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with minor thalassemia showed no relationship with sex and age and these patients had just higher BMI.

Elevated Prevalence of Abnormal Glucose Metabolism and Other Endocrine Disorders in Patients withβ-Thalassemia Major: A Meta-Analysis

“…The selection flow chart is shown in Figure 1. Of the included studies, seven studies [30, 33, 34, 36, 39, 40, 43] were from Italy; seven studies [14, 16, 18, 20, 21, 31, 42] were from Iran; five studies [17, 19, 27, 44, 45] were from Egypt; five studies [4, 8, 22, 23, 35] were from the China region, including the mainland [22], Hong Kong [23], and Taiwan [4, 8, 35]; three studies [11, 12, 32] were from India; two studies [41, 47] were from Arabia; one study [37] was from Germany. The other studies were from Australia [26], Brazil [3], France [9], Lebanon [41], Oman [15], Turkey [25, 38], the United Kingdom [46], and the United States of America [2].…”

“…Thalassemia has long-term extravascular hemolysis which increases iron absorption in the intestinal tract and decreases the bioavailability of iron. This phenomenon coupled with long-term multiple blood transfusions could lead to iron overload and increase the amount of iron ions [31, 32]. The most frequent endocrine disorders were abnormal glucose metabolism, hypogonadotropic hypogonadism, hypothyroidism, and hypoparathyroidism.…”

Body Composition in Adult Patients with Thalassemia Major

“…However, there are some studies that have explored the coexistence of metabolic syndrome in patients with thalassemia minor and it has been suggested that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome showed no relationship with sex and age and these patients had just higher BMI [23]. It has also been reported that patients with thalassemia minor have a better lipidemic and metabolic profile; however, women seem to be at least equally protected against cardiovascular risk compared with men [24].…”

Intraocular pressure in subjects with beta-thalassemia minor

“…Research suggests that chronic microcytic erythrocytic hemolysis in BTM patients leads to oxidative stress and liver inflammation, which then lead to insulin resistance (12,14) . Gozashti et al noted BTM is associated with high prevalence of carbohydrate-related metabolic disorders which result liver inflammation and subsequent insulin resistance (15) . On the other hand, Gozashti and colleagues ATP-related data indicated that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in thalassemia patients was below that of the normal population (16.7% vs 36.7%).…”