Metabolic Syndrome in Ambulatory People With Post-Polio Syndrome, Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease, and Other...

The metabolic syndrome is a growing health issue. This study evaluated the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and individual metabolic syndrome risk factors, in people with different neuromuscular diseases.

We used baseline data of a randomized controlled trial on the efficacy of a physical activity program in neuromuscular diseases. Metabolic syndrome was defined as the presence of at least three out of five risk factors of the revised National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III.

The 84 participants (50 female, median age = 63 yrs, interquartile range = 48, 68 yrs) were diagnosed with post-polio syndrome ( n = 22), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease ( n = 37) or other neuromuscular diseases ( n = 25). Metabolic syndrome was present in 18 participants (21%). The most common risk factors were hypertension (56%), central obesity (49%), and increased fasting blood glucose (33%). Logistic regression results showed that adjusted for age and muscle strength as confounders, participants with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (Exp(B) = 0.107, 95% confidence interval: 0.019-0.609) and other neuromuscular diseases (Exp(B) = 0.039, 95% confidence interval: 0.004-0.390) had significantly lower odds of metabolic syndrome compared with post-polio syndrome.

The metabolic syndrome prevalence that we found is comparable to the general Dutch population. However, a focus on the prevention of metabolic syndrome in neuromuscular rehabilitation is warranted, as certain neuromuscular diseases subgroups may be at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome.