Endocrine Abstracts

Background and aims: The identification of metabolic syndrome (MS) is important for the appropriate management of associated cardiovascular risk factors. There are different criteria for the diagnosis of the metabolic syndrome proposed by the WHO and the National Cholesterol Education Program 2001 – NCEP/ATP III. The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of the MS as the NCEP/ATP III criteria in a selected population of type 2 diabetes.

Patients and methods: We randomly selected 500 patients with T2 diabetes in Tirana district. 321/500 (64.2%) responded, 158 (49.2%) males. All the patients had completed anthropometric measures and lipid profile after an 8-h fast. The patients having two more criteria except diabetes, were defined as having MS.

Results: The prevalence of the MS was 64.5%, males 56.8% and females 75.7%. The prevalence increased with age, from 16% before 40 years of age to 78% at 70 years. Diabetes duration was not different in patients with or without MS (M: 6.7±3.4 vs 6.9±3.7; F: 7.2±3.8 vs 6.8±3.6 years). The number of components of the MS was related to the age (ANOVA P<0.05) but not to diabetes duration. Central obesity was present to males 36% females 85.4%, HTA 49.6 and 60.2%, low HDL 52 and 90%, high triglycerides 70.9 and 66.7% respectively. HbA1c was higher in persons with MS (9.6±2.2 vs 8.7±1.4%, P<0.01).

Conclusion: The results show that MS is two-fold more prevalent in type 2 diabetes, compared with the general Albanian population (64.5 vs 32%). The levels of cardiovascular risk factors are increased in type 2 diabetics and urged immediate efforts directed at controlling the components of MS (mainly obesity, physical inactivity and lipid control).