Hematological parameters and metabolic syndrome: findings from an occupational cohort in Ethiopia

To examine associations between hematological parameters (i.e., hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet counts, red blood cell (RBC), and white blood cell (WBC) counts) and components of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among working adults in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Participants were 1868 (1131 men and 737 women) working Ethiopian adults. MetS was classified according to the International Diabetes Federation criterion. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) of MetS were calculated using logistic regression procedures.

Hematologic parameters (hemoglobin, hematocrit, and RBC) were positively associated with MetS components (P(trend)<0.05). In both men and women, white blood cell (WBC) counts were positively associated with BMI and waist circumference (P<0.05). RBC counts were associated with diastolic blood pressure in men (P<0.05) and women (P<0.001). Men in the third quartile of hemoglobin concentrations had 2-fold increased odds (OR=1.99; 95% CI) of MetS compared with the lowest reference quartile (P(trend)=0.031) while women in the fourth hemoglobin quartile had 2.37-fold increased odds of having MetS compared with the reference group (P(trend)=0.003). Both men and women in the fourth quartiles of RBC counts had 2.26-fold and 3.44-fold increased odds of MetS (P=0.002 in men, P<0.001 in women). Among women, those in the fourth quartiles of hematocrit and platelet counts had 2.53-fold and 2.01-fold increased odds of MetS as compared with those in the reference group (P(trend)=0.004 and 0.065 respectively).

Our study findings provide evidence in support of using hematological markers for early detection of individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease.