Metabolic Syndrome Among Physicians: A Pilot Study from Chattogram, Bangladesh

Abstract

Background : Although the information on Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) in the general population from different parts of Bangladesh is available, the information regarding the same is scarcely available from physicians of Bangladesh. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence of MetS among physicians working at Chattogram Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh.
 Materials and methods : Data was collected for this cross-sectional study from 255 working physicians of Chittagong Medical College Hospital in 2018. The participants filled a structured questionnaire followed by physical and biochemical measurements including waist circumference, blood pressure, lipid profile, and fasting blood glucose. National Cholesterol Education Program’s Adult Treatment Panel III report (ATP III) defines criteria were used to identify physicians with the MetS.
 Results : Among 255 participants (males - 192 and females - 63), 100 (39.2%) were with MetS. Prevalence of same was higher in females (41.3%) than males (38.5%). The elderly physicians (>40 years) had a higher prevalence compared to the younger (£40 years) physicians [72 (50.3%) vs. 28 (25.0%)]. In the males, low High-Density Lipoproteins-Cholesterol (HDL-C) was the major contributor to the prevalence of MetS followed by high blood pressure. However, in females, low HDL-C and greater waist circumference contributed the maximum to MetS.
 Conclusion : This study showed a high prevalence of MetS among physicians of Bangladesh, and thereby warrants the urgent implementation of preventive health care strategies to reduce both morbidity and mortality related to this medical problem. Further studies ought to focus on the working conditions and lifestyles of individuals in these high-risk groups.
 Chatt Maa Shi Hosp Med Coll J; Vol.20 (2); July 2021; Page 65-68

Metabolic syndrome and the risk of coronary artery disease among the physicians

“…In our study, we observed a five-fold higher prevalence of MetS in males compared to females; this was higher than 1.5–3.7 folds of MetS in males reported in previous studies 19 , 20 , 24 , 25 . In contrast, one study found slightly higher MetS prevalence in female (41%) compared to male physicians (39%) 19 . Inconsistent data of age group and MetS were also found, with one study reporting higher MetS in physicians over 40 years (50% vs. 25%), whereas another study found higher rates in younger age groups (40% in ≤40 years vs. 34% in older age) 25 .…”

“…Our study, focusing on Thai physicians, found a relatively low prevalence of MetS at 8.9% which was quite low compared to 18–39% reported from other studies from different Asian countries that employed the ATP III criteria (Table 5 ) 18 , 19 , 24 , 25 . For instance, studies in India and Bangladesh reported prevalence rates of 38% and 39% MetS among physicians 19 , 24 , 25 , 23% in another study conducted in Thailand 20 , and only 18% from a large study from Taiwan 18 .…”

“…Previous studies have reported inconsistent findings regarding the association of age and gender with MetS. In our study, we observed a five-fold higher prevalence of MetS in males compared to females; this was higher than 1.5–3.7 folds of MetS in males reported in previous studies 19 , 20 , 24 , 25 . In contrast, one study found slightly higher MetS prevalence in female (41%) compared to male physicians (39%) 19 .…”

“…To facilitate comparison, we analyzed the percentages of MetS components in our study and other previous studies focusing on physicians in Asia (Table 5 ). The physicians in our study had lower frequency of each MetS component compared to those found in other studies 18 , 19 , 24 , 25 . Using BMI greater than 30 kg/m 2 as the cut-off value for obesity was probably too high for Thai population, who had smaller body built and different cultural habit of diet (non-butter or low dairy products) and might have led to low percentage of obesity in our study.…”

“…Our study identified high blood sugar, high blood pressure and high triglycerides as the 3 most common abnormal components of MetS. Other studies reported high blood pressure, high waist circumference, and low HDL as the most common components whereas high blood sugar as the least common component of MetS 18 , 19 . Different findings across studies could be attributed to the participant characteristics, such as age, sex, work patterns, physical activity levels, diet and exercise.…”