Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Its Components among Adolescent Students at Two Selected Schools in Yangon

Han Win1*, Sandar Kyi1, Win Lai May1, Myat Tin Htwe Kyaw1, Ssu Wynn Mon1, Hsu Theingi1 & Khin Thidar Oo2

Myanmar Health Sciences Research Journal

Due to changes in lifestyle and nutrition conditions, adolescents are at increased risk for developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). In Myanmar, there is limited data about MetS among adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of MetS and its individual components among school adolescents. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at two selected schools in Yangon during October to December 2019. A total of 240 adolescents of both sexes, aged 14-16 years, were recruited. The presence of metabolic syndrome and individual components was ascertained using the National Cholesterol Educa­tion Program- Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III) criteria, modified for adolescents. There were 117 males (49%) and 123 females (51%) in the study with their mean age of 14.61±0.7 years. The overall prevalence of MetS was 5% (95% CI: 2.7-8.3) with 7.7% in males and 2.4% in females. The most commonly found abnormality was low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (35%), followed by hypertension (28.3%). 

INTRODUCTION

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is recognized as the clustering of risk factors of obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia and hyper-tension with the subsequent development of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes mellitus.¹ MetS is not limited to adults. A previous study suggested each component of the MetS must be identified as early as possible to prevent definitive diseases in adult life.² In view of cardiovascular risk factors tend to track from childhood into adult-hood; early identification of  MetS  and  its  indi-vidual  components  is valuable in targeting efforts for chronic disease prevention.³ An association between genetics and the development of MetS has been reported.⁴ However, environmental factors can also influence this genetic predisposition.⁵

A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at No. 4 Basic Education High School, Ahlone Township and No. 2 Basic Education High School, North Okkalapa Township in Yangon from October to December 2019. These schools were purposely selected, one each from urban and peri-urban townships. Students with chronic disease, chronic medication use and those who could not fast were excluded. Of all eligible students, 120 students were randomly recruited from each school. A total of 240 adolescent students of both sexes within the age of 14-16 years participated in the study.

The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this study according to modified NCEP-ATP III criteria was 5%. It was higher than the world median of 3.3% and the prevalence reported from Hong Kong (2.4%), India (2.6%) and United States of America (4.2%).¹But it was lower than the previous studies from Iran (6.1%) and Turkey (10.8%).^{14, 15} In some studies, pre-valence as high as 13% and 14% were reported from Korea and Kuwait.^{16, 17}

This study was supported by MOHS IR Grant (2018-2019). The authors would like to thank headmistresses and teachers of No. 4 Basic Education High School, Ahlone Township and No. 2 Basic Education High School, North Okkalapa Township in Yangon for their collaboration and kind support. Last but not the least we are grateful to all study participants.

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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