Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Kashmir valley of Indian subcontinent.

Background: This study was conducted to evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Kashmir valley of North India.

Materials And Methods: The study was done among the attendants who accompanied patients in inpatient and outpatient departments of Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences, Srinagar (Kashmir). A stratified random sampling procedure was adopted for the study. A total of 500 subjects were studied over a period of one year which included 257 men and 243 women. All subjects underwent anthropometric assessment and blood pressure measurements. Fasting blood sample was obtained for blood glucose and lipids. Subjects were screened for the components of metabolic syndrome according to criteria given by adult treatment panel (ATP-III). Analysis and inference were drawn using Student's test, chi-square test, Man Whitney U test, and logistic regression analysis.

Results: The mean age of both men and women was 37 years. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 8.6% (n =43); with males constituting 7.4% (n =19) and females constituting 9.9% (n =24). Though prevalence was more in females, it was insignificant (P =0.323). The prevalence of hypertension in males was 24.9% and in females it was 12.3%. The prevalence of hyperglycemia in males was 9.3% and in females it was 7.4%. 9.7% males and 25.9% females had low HDL-cholesterol. 17% males and 13.2% females had elevated triglyceride levels.

Conclusion: Our study showed low prevalence of metabolic syndrome as compared to South and North Indian population.