RESUMO
Background: The health of the elderly population and the emergence ofnoncommunicable diseases have become major public health issues in recent years.Metabolic syndrome is thought to be the main driving force for the global epidemic ofcardiovascular diseases, as well as for type 2 diabetes. This cross-sectional studyaimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its correlates amongthe residents of care homes for the elderly in Hyderabad city, India.Methods: A total 114 elderly persons (aged ≥60 years) were evaluated in across-sectional study. Metabolic syndrome was defined by the 2005 criteriaof the International Diabetes Federation. Data were collected on selectedsociodemographic, behavioural and nutritional variables and cardiometabolic riskfactors. Blood pressure and anthropometric measurements were also recorded.Fasting blood samples were collected for measurement of blood glucose andserum lipid levels. Univariable logistic regression was applied to investigate theassociations between metabolic syndrome and known risk factors; adjustedanalysis was then done by multivariable logistic regression for significant variables.Results: The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 42.1% (48/114)among the study population. A higher prevalence (50.9%; 27/53) was found amongwomen. High blood pressure or taking antihypertensive medication was foundto be the most common (95.8%; 46/48) cardiometabolic component. The risk ofmetabolic syndrome did not differ significantly by age group, sex, caste, religion,type of diet (vegetarian or non-vegetarian), educational status, behavioural factorssuch as tobacco use and alcohol intake, physical activity (assessed by modifiedEastern Cooperative Oncology Group [ECOG] scale), or physical exercise.However, a body mass index ≥23 kg/m2 was associated with metabolic syndrome(unadjusted odds ratio [OR]: 8.97; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 3.78–21.28);adjusted OR: 9.31; 95% CI: 4.12–22.14)Conclusion: The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this study populationof elderly care-home residents in India was more than 40%. Further research onthe burden of metabolic syndrome in the elderly population is warranted.
