EVALUATION OF METABOLIC SYNDROME AMONG STUDENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF MAIDUGURI

ABSTRACT Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of interrelated disorders which occur together causing an increase in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The university population is an understudied group despite the increase in the frequency of related disorders and metabolic risk factors e.g. obesity and diabetes, majorly due to the assumption that they are in their most active phase of life therefore healthy. This study looked at metabolic syndrome, the sedentary lifestyles and awareness level present among students of university of Maiduguri. Random sampling was used to select participants. Self-administered questionnaires were issued to participants after a signed consent had been obtained following which clinical assessments and biochemical measures were performed. They included blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, anthropometric measurements; height, weight, BMI and waist circumference. Fasting blood glucose was measured using glucose oxidase method while serum total cholesterol was measured using enzymatic colorimetric method, serum tryglycerides using enzymatic hydrolytic method, serum HDL using precipitation method and serum LDL using Friedewald’s formula, Mean ± standard deviation was calculated, and student t test was used to determine the mean difference of the prevalence of metabolic syndrome criteria per gender, the number of metabolic syndrome criteria per BMI and prevalence of metabolic syndrome criteria per BMI category. Data were analyzed with SPSS version 27.0 The study established that 8% of the participants met the criteria for diagnosis of metabolic syndrome according to WHO criteria, with female subjects accounting for 6% and males only 2%. It was also noted that students within 18-24 years and 25-30 years both have a prevalence rate of 4% each. Despite its increasing prevalence, a significant proportion of students 32% have no knowledge about MS. This knowledge gaps present a public health challenge and an opportunity for targeted health promotion efforts. This studies concluded that the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among some university of Maiduguri students population is moderately high, and also metabolic syndrome is directly proportional to BMI.