[The metabolic syndrome in hypertensive black population of South Algeria].

Introduction: The metabolic syndrome is a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. It exposes to two main complications: cardiovascular diseases and type II diabetes. This risk is higher among women. It causes a high cardiovascular mortality.

Objectives: Assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MS) among our black hypertensive population. Study of the distribution of the different criteria in the cluster. Search cardiovascular complications.

Materials And Methods: This longitudinal study that was carried out included one thousand five hundred and fifty subjects of both sexes from black and white populations aged 40 and older, living in the Algerian Sahara and reviewed after six years of decline. The control consisted of filling a questionnaire oriented on civil status, in addition to a clinical examination, including morphometry, measurement of blood pressure performed with validated electronic device (OMRON 705 CP). Also, a biological check-up was done (glycemy, HDL, cholesterol). A univariate and multivariate analysis have been carried out. All calculations and statistical analyzes are processed by the SPSS 17.0 and Epi Info6 software.

Results: The MS frequency is 20.8%, more frequent among women than among men, with a significant difference (28.4% versus 15.1%, P<0.001). We found out a difference between black and white populations in terms of obesity (37.6% versus 31.1%), hypertension (60.6% versus 55.0%), diabetes (25.2% versus 19.2%) or other metabolic syndrome criteria. The most frequent complications according to decreasing frequency are: hospitalization for cardiovascular diseases 8.9%, stroke 6.3%, heart failure 5.8%, myocardial infarction 3.6%. The mortality rate is 14.7% among the blacks and 11.3% among the whites without difference. The survival rate of the population is influenced by the MS and by a non-checked blood pressure by an antihypertensive treatment.

Conclusion: The MS is highly prevailing among hypertensive black population, and significantly higher among women. The ranking of the cluster elements frequency shows clearly the specifities of our population. It is necessary to elaborate an adequate strategy to prevent such cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.