Abstract

*Ejiofor I.K, Ngozi S.A and and

The aim of this study is to study the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and its predictors among type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) outpatients of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu Nigeria using the National Cholesterol Education Programme/Adult Treatment Panel 111(NCEP/ATP111) criteria. A total of 366 T2DM patients, (210 men and 156 women), who were registered and receiving treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) in the hospital, participated in the study. Bio-data measurements and laboratory determinations were done using standard methods. The prevalence of MS among the T2DM patients was 67.8%. More female patients (84.6%) had the syndrome than male patients, (55.2%). The female patients had more unfavourable anthropometric parameters than men. Excess waist circumference was found in 150, (41%) of the patients and was strongly associated with the metabolic syndrome 92%. Low high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentrations and raised systolic blood pressure occurred less commonly, 39 and 28% respectively, but were nonetheless strongly associated with the syndrome, 89 and 85% respectively. All four predictors, (except hyperglycaemia), were found in 18(5%), of the patients, 2(1.7%) men and 16(12%) women while three of them, excess waist circumference, low HDL-C and raised triglycerides clustered with hyperglcaemia in 90(25.6%) patients; 36(31%) men and 54(41%) women with the syndrome. The prevalence of MS among the T2DM patients was lower than figures reported elsewhere. More women than men had the syndrome due probably to differences in weight. Raised diastolic blood pressure and low HDL-C were strong predictors of the syndrome while raised triglycerides may be used for screening for the syndrome in the study population.