Metabolic syndrome among elderly care-home residents in southern India: A cross-sectional study

The health of the elderly population and the emergence of noncommunicable diseases have become major public health issues in recent years. Metabolic syndrome is thought to be the main driving force for the global epidemic of cardiovascular diseases, as well as for type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional study aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its correlates among the residents of care homes for the elderly in Hyderabad city, India.

A total 114 elderly persons (aged ≥60 years) were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Metabolic syndrome was defined by the 2005 criteria of the International Diabetes Federation. Data were collected on selected sociodemographic, behavioural and nutritional variables and cardiometabolic risk factors. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were also recorded. Fasting blood samples were collected for measurement of blood glucose and serum lipid levels. Univariable logistic regression was applied to investigate the associations between metabolic syndrome and known risk factors; adjusted analysis was then done by multivariable logistic regression for significant variables.

The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 42.1% (48/114) among the study population. A higher prevalence (50.9%; 27/53) was found among women. High blood pressure or taking antihypertensive medication was found to be the most common (95.8%; 46/48) cardiometabolic component. The risk of metabolic syndrome did not differ significantly by age group, sex, caste, religion, type of diet (vegetarian or non-vegetarian), educational status, behavioural factors such as tobacco use and alcohol intake, physical activity (assessed by modified Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] scale), or physical exercise. However, a body mass index ≥23 kg/m2 was associated with metabolic syndrome (unadjusted odds ratio [OR]: 8.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.78-21.28); adjusted OR: 9.31; 95% CI: 4.12-22.14) Conclusion: The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this study population of elderly care-home residents in India was more than 40%. Further research on the burden of metabolic syndrome in the elderly population is warranted.