Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components in brazilian college students

Abstract

Aims and objectives. To identify the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components in a population of college students at a public higher education institution in Fortaleza, Brazil. Background. Scientific evidence has demonstrated the ascent of the metabolic syndrome in the young population. Design. Cross-sectional study of 702 Brazilian college students between January–July 2011. Methods. Socio-demographic indicators, life habits and the components of the metabolic syndrome were assessed. ANOVA statistical tests were used to associate gender with the metabolic syndrome components, and the chi-square test to associate the number of metabolic syndrome components with gender and body mass index. Results. High fasting venous glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C levels were found in 12 3, 23 0, 9 7 and 5 9% of the sample, respectively. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome amounted to 1 7%. Nevertheless, 30 4% of students manifested at least one and 12 4% at least two individual components. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was higher in men (58 3%) and in people who were overweight (33 3%) and obese (41 7%). It is important to implement public health policies to reduce college students’ vulnerability to the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions. Most college students who displayed 3 metabolic syndrome components were men and already indicated being overweight and/or obesity. Relevance to clinical practice. It is