Metabolic syndrome and its components among university students in Kenya
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Date
2017
Authors
Mbugua, Samuel Mungai
Kimani, Samuel Thuo
Munyoki, Gilbert
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
Background: Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of interrelated disorders which occur together causing an
increase in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The university population is an understudied
group despite the increase in the frequency of related disorders and metabolic risk factors e.g. obesity and
diabetes, majorly due to the assumption that they are in their most active phase of life therefore healthy. This study
looked at metabolic syndrome, the sedentary lifestyles and dietary habits present among university students
attending Mount Kenya University, main campus.
Methods: Stratified sampling was used to select participants. Self-administered questionnaires were issued to
participants after a signed consent had been obtained following which clinical assessments and biochemical
measures were performed. They included blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, high density
lipoprotein-cholesterol, anthropometric measurements; height, weight, BMI and waist circumference. Pearson’s chisquare
tests and non-parametric independent t-test were used to analyze the prevalence of metabolic syndrome
criteria per gender, the number of metabolic syndrome criteria per BMI and prevalence of metabolic syndrome
criteria per BMI category.
Results: The study established that 1.9% of the participants met the criteria for diagnosis of metabolic syndrome
according to HJSS criteria. Among the elements, there was statistical difference in gender BMI and waist
circumference. 11.8% of subjects had two metabolic syndrome components while 3.1% had three components
while none of the subjects had all six components. Elevated triglycerides was the most prevalent defining
component for metabolic syndrome. There is a statistically significant relationship between sedentary lifestyle and
dietary habits as risk factors to metabolic syndrome.
Conclusion: Young adults in university have begun developing metabolic syndrome and the risk of developing the
syndrome continues to increase with the components being reported in early age. Educational initiatives to
encourage healthy eating should be conducted within school premises in order to reinforce the message on
healthy diets and physical exercise. Pre-admission screening to identify at risk students should be conducted.
Targeted interventions development through a mandatory extra co-curricular program should be enforced to
positively engage those at risk.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
Metabolic syndrome, University students, Diabetes
Citation
Mbugua et al. BMC Public Health (2017) 17:909. DOI 10.1186/s12889-017-4936-x