Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Military Police Officers of São Paulo City: The Health Promotion in Military Police (HPMP) Study

Abstract

We determined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among military police officers (MPOs) from the radio patrol program of the Military Police of Sao Paulo State (PMESP). Towards this goal, we analyzed the following characteristics: shift duty (daytime or nighttime patrol), service length in the PMESP, education level attained, weekly alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity of 93 MPOs. The MPO groups were created based on work shift [daytime (n=48) or nighttime (n=45)], and years of MPO experience [≤3 years (n=48) or ≥10 years (n=45)]. The overall prevalence of MetS among the 93 MPOs was 43%. There was a higher prevalence of MetS in the group with ≥ten years (53.3%) than that with ≤three years (33.3%); so, 1,6 times higher. The more prevalent MetS indicators (n=93) included waist circumference (76.3%), hypertension (55.9%), reduced plasma HDL-cholesterol levels (44%), hypertriglyceridemia (32.2%), and hyperglycemia (20.4%). Greater waist circumference, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, higher glycated hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels, and MetS itself were associated with the service length (i.e., ≥ten years). The work shift was not associated with any MetS indicator. Those who were overweight or obese were 2.2. times more likely to develop MetS. Hypertriglyceridemia, the best indicator of the MetS, increased the chance of developing MetS by 16 times. Conclusion: MPOs exhibit a high prevalence of MetS, associated with the years of service and age.

Metabolic and Inflammatory Profile of Physically Active and Less Active Military Police Officers

“…The high demand to mediate various incidents impairs appropriate eating habits, increases stress and prevents or reduces physical activity consequently impacting the officers' personal health throughout their professional careers [2,3] Recently, our group showed, using a pedometer, that the number of steps police officers take during their radio patrol shift is below the number recommended by health agencies [4]. A high prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) was also previously reported in these workers [5]. The consequences of reduced physical activity (PA) among police officers may involve an increased incidence of being overweight and obese, a higher risk for developing diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease [5,6], and/or reduced aerobic capacity [7] jeopardizing the MPO'S ability to perform daily work tasks.…”

Association between the number of steps performed during work and metabolic syndrome indicators in São Paulo city military police officers: The health promotion of Military Police (HPMP) study

“…In a recent study, Souza (2021) reported that São Paulo city MPOs are overweight or obese and that 43% exhibit MetS. A high MetS incidence was also detected among MPOs from Bahia, Brazil, reaching 38.5% of the total force (Filho & D'Oliveira Jr, 2014) and in police officers from other countries, including India (Tharkar, et al, 2008), the USA (Baughman et Research, Society and Development, v. 11, n. 2, e13511225376, 2022(CC BY 4.0) | ISSN 2525-3409 | DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.33448/rsd-v11i2.25376 4 al., 2016Violanti, et al, 2009), Taiwan (Chang, et al, 2015), Italy (Garbarino & Magnavita, 2015), and Iran (Payab, et al, 2017).…”

“…The present study was carried out at the Institute of Sport Sciences and Physical Activity (ICAFE) at Cruzeiro do Sul University (UNICSUL) in São Paulo, SP, Brazil, as previously described by Souza et al (2021). The MPOs from Metropolitan Police Command Area 1 work in the radio patrol program in the São Paulo city center and participated in a previous study (Souza et al, 2021). Initially, 51 MPOs were recruited to monitor physical activity levels using a pedometer (YamaxDigi-Walker SW 700, Tokyo, Japan) during their patrols.…”

“…The Diagnosis and Analysis Center (CDA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil) conducted the laboratory measurements. Our group used the exact measurements in a previous study (Souza et al, 2021).…”

“…Patients with at least three of the five indicators were considered to have MetS. The same protocol was used in our previous study (Souza et al, 2021).…”