Prevalence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome among hypertensive patients attending a tertiary hospital in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Hypertension is the most common and important cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor, frequently clustering with other risk factors to increase cardiovascular disease morbidity and mortality. This study therefore, aimed to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among hypertensive subjects using the criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III(NCEP -ATP III)in a tertiary hospital, in Kano, North -Western Nigeria. This was a cross-sectional study conducted at the hypertensive clinic of Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, Kano. Structured pretested interviewer administered questionnaire was used for data collection. A population of 240 hypertensive patients ( 119 males and 121 females) over the age of 18 years were screened for metabolic syndrome by determining the body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, levels of fasting plasma glucose and fasting plasma lipids. Out of the 240 patients studied, 92(38.2%) patients met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. 26(28.6%) of them were males and 66(71.4%) were females. Type II diabetes mellitus was found in 85(35.8%), impaired fasting glucose in 18(7.5%), high plasma triglycerides in 58(24.4%) and low high density lipoprotein cholesterol in 79(33%).Obesity was found in 105(43.8%). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among hypertensives in Kano is high. Therefore, regular screening and control of hypertension and other CVD risk factors is necessary to prevent complications.