Relationship between socio-demographics, body composition, emotional state, and social support on metabolic syndrome risk among adults in rural Mongolia

Abstract

Background In Mongolia, where there is a large regional gap in the quality of healthcare services, metabolic syndrome (MetS) is steadily increasing. However, there are few studies on the risk level of MetS and affecting factors among adults living in rural Mongolia. This study aims to explore the relationship between socio-demographics, clinical characteristics, emotional state, and social support on the risk level of MetS prevalence among adults living in rural Mongolia. Methods In this cross-sectional study, 143 adults living in the soum area of Dondgovi aimag in Mongolia were recruited. Data collection was conducted from July 2 to 3, 2019. The self-reported questionnaires including socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and emotional status, anthropometric tests using the InBody, and blood sampling tests were conducted. The number of individual diagnostic criteria met was scored as a MetS risk score and classified into 6 groups, from the lowest score of 0 to the highest score of 5. The ordinal logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors affecting the risk of MetS. Results The prevalence of MetS among adults living in rural Mongolia was 58.0%, and the mean MetS risk score was 2.70±1.34 points. In the ordinal logistic regression analysis, age, regular exercise of moderate intensity or higher, InBody score reflecting obesity or sarcopenia, and depression level were statistically significantly associated with the risk score for MetS. Conclusions Our study demonstrated that MetS risk levels among adults living in rural Mongolia with limited medical resources were strongly associated with demographic characteristics, body composition and emotional health condition, particularly depression.

Social Health and Its Influence on Metabolic Health Among a Rural Population: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…In addition, our findings showed that the rate of MetS according to the NCEP ATP III was 43.5%, suggesting that the prevalence of MetS continues to increase in line with the dramatic rise in the prevalence of obesity. The observed prevalence is similar to that identified in studies of rural populations in Mongolia (Kim et al, 2021), Korea (Lee et al, 2018), and Poland (Czekajło et al, 2019). However, other studies in rural areas of China showed a prevalence of MetS ranging from 14.3% (Guo et al, 2017) to 24.2% (Ling et al, 2020), somewhat lower than in this study.…”

“…A lack of social support and social disengagement or feelings of loneliness are closely linked to CVD, depression, dementia, disability, cognitive decline, and mortality (Mehrabi & Béland, 2020). Interestingly, a few recent studies evidence that environmental factors such as social support, loneliness, and social isolation may affect the prevalence of MetS (Badcock et al, 2019; Kim et al, 2021; Winterton et al, 2020).…”

Life Satisfaction among Older Adults in Rural and Urban Mongolia: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study

“…Older adults are more vulnerable to poverty as most cannot work for pay and their pensions and benefits are insufficient to sustain a healthy livelihood and many lack essential information about potential resources they may need [ 18 ]. Loneliness, an inability to access social and health care, and depression are therefore common [ 19 ]. Owing to the wide geographic dispersal of the population and poor infrastructure in rural and outlying areas, older adults, including nomadic pastoralists, who live in these areas are likely to be especially disadvantaged.…”

Dietary Acid Load (DAL), Glycated Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), and Metabolic Syndrome (MeS) Mediate the Association of the Adherence to the Dietary Approaches to Stopping Hypertension (DASH) and Mediterranean Diet (MeD) With Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

“…Most researchers have reported that MeS prevalence was related to demographic characteristics, including aging ( 41 – 44 ) (Hypothesis 1.2).…”