The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among university students in Wasit, Iraq

To determine the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its related risk factors in a group of healthy subjects.

This cross-sectional analytic investigation used a convenient sample of 300 apparently healthy university students from Wasit, Iraq, between October 2021 and February 2022. The data was collected using a structured direct interview with a self-administered questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (waist circumference [WC], body mass index [BMI], height, weight, and the blood pressure), total cholesterol level, triglyceride level, high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), and fasting blood glucose (FBG) were all measured. IDF/AHA/NHLBI criteria were used to diagnose metabolic syndrome.

Overall, 41.3% of students had MetS, with female (66.9%) students having the highest frequency. The most common component of MetS was elevated FBG (98.3%), followed by increased WC (87.9%), and finally a low HDL-C level (85.4%). The following factors were found to be predisposing to MetS: being female (OR=2.32), over the age of 20 (OR=1.96), obese (OR=9.46), high consumption of fast food (OR=2.35), and physically inactive.

Metabolic syndrome prevalence and defining criteria are significantly high among Iraqi university students. Fasting blood glucose was the most common component followed by increased WC. The significant risk factors for MetS were older age, females, high BMI (≥25), low physical-activity, and eating of fast foods, and can remedy the risk if the components of the disease are reported at a younger age.