METABOLIC SYNDROME STATUS DEFINED BY THE INTERNATIONAL DIABETES FEDERATION AMONG A SAMPLE OF COLLEGE STUDENTS FROM PALESTINE

Abstract

Introduction: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of risk factors including central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and high blood pressure (BP). It viewed as the main risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and diabetes mellitus (DM). We aim to determine the prevalence of MetS among Palestinian college students using the definition proposed by the international diabetes federation (IDF). Methods: This study was a cross-sectional. A total of 100 male students and 100 agematched female students were randomly selected. Personal, clinical, and lifestyle data of the students were gathered by questionnaire. Anthropometric and biochemical indices were measured. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Results: Male students were more active in their lifestyle, more obese, hypertensive, hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia than female students (p?0.05). The most common MetS criteria among the students were low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) 31.0%, large waist circumference (WC) 14.0%, high Glucose 12.5%, high Triglycerides (TG) 8.5%, and high blood pressure (BP) 6.0%. MetS occurrence in the current study was 7.0% with 8% of women and 6% of men having MetS. Obese students had the greatest occurrence of high WC and elevated BP compared to those in other students (p?0.05). Furthermore, obese students had a higher prevalence of MetS than found among other students. Conclusion: MetS is found among college students in Palestine. It also appears that obesity contributes to the high incidence of MetS. Early diagnosis and treatment of MetS risk factors and healthier lifestyle promotion lead to decrease the risk of MetS occurrence.