Updates in Prevalence and Management of Metabolic Syndrome among Children in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a set of cardiovascular risk factors, is one of the most prevalent metabolic abnormalities, which lead to many chronic conditions. This systematic review aims to detect the published literature on the prevalence of MetS among Saudi children. The Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Science Direct, EBSCO, and PubMed were all searched. Rayyan QCRI was used to screen study articles by title and abstract before full-text evaluation. Six studies were included, with a total of 1048 subjects. The prevalence of MetS among Saudi children ranged from 7% to 30%. The most commonly associated comorbidities with MetS were Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and hypertension. According to this systematic analysis, the prevalence of MetS in various Saudi paediatric populations varied and ranged from 7% to 30%. A high prevalence of MetS was discovered in obese children, despite the fact that it was also seen in kids with normal BMI. The two related comorbidities that were most common were T2DM and hypertension. Obesity in children must be avoided in order to lower future MetS. In many different situations, screening for obesity and MetS should be a part of paediatric clinical care. By detecting the presence of MetS and taking action with specific lifestyle recommendations and regular follow-up to encourage adherence, it is anticipated that the long-term health of these children will be improved.