Metabolic Syndrome and Its Association with Nutritional and Cardiometabolic Risk Factors: Prevalence among Apparently Healthy Adults in a Rural Community in Southwestern Nigeria

Aim: The study assessed the prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome among apparently healthy adults in rural settlements.

Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration: Ejigbo, a rural settlement in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria, between September and December 2019.

Methodology: 271 apparently healthy individuals were recruited using a multistage sampling technique with the WHO STEPS Instrument questionnaire, level of significance set at P= 0.05.

Results: The prevalences of overweight and obesity were 96 (35.4%) and 66 (24.4%) respectively. The prevalence of hypertension among respondents was 83 (30.6%). High plasma levels of Total Cholesterol 64 (23.6%), triglyceride 20 (7.4%), LDL-Cholesterol 28 (10.3%) and very high LDL-Cholesterol 31 (11.5%) were found among the respondents. While 72 (26.6%) of the respondents have a low level of HDL-Cholesterol. The prevalence of impaired glucose tolerance among the respondents was 34 (12.6%) when 45 (16.6%) had diabetic plasma glucose levels and 82 (30.3%) for metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion: Cardiometabolic risk factors were very high among rural dwellers, especially people without metabolic syndrome. Therefore, public awareness, about those risk factors, should be intensified. Routine medical check-ups and screening should be encouraged.