The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Filipino college students aged 18-25 years: The final report.

OBJECTIVES: The study determined the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) among Filipino college students aged 18-25 years, and those at risk for MS using the NCEP ATPIII Modified and WHO Asian Modified criteria. Another aim was to identify the risk factors associated with MS in this subpopulation. DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional descriptive prospective study. SETTING: The study was conducted in 6 collegiate schools, 4 Manila and 2 provincial colleges. Three out of 6 were private schools and the other 3 were government schools. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 505 (m= 129 and f=376) Filipino college students from 4 Manila (n=373) and 2 provincial (n= 132) schools, aged 18-25 years old voluteered after selection by computer randomization from the official list of enrolees for a particular school semester. 27 students had no blood analysis and/or incomplete anthropometric data. A total of 478 students finished the study. MAIN OUTCOME: Anthropometrk measures were obtained. Blood analyses for FBG, lipid profile, SCOT, SGPT and MEASURE serum insulin were extracted, and urine microalbumin was determined. Prevalence rates for MS and at risk for MS were obtained. The most commonly associated risk factors for MS were also determined. RESULTS: Mean BMI was 19.8 +/- 1.9kg/m2, WC for males (M) was +/- 10.8cm and for females (F) 68.1 +/- 7.6cm, mean SBP was 106.3 +/- 12.1 and DBP was 70.5 +/- 8.6mmHg. Mean FBS, triglyceride, SCOT and SGPT were 86.6+9.4, 83.3 +/- 33.7mg/dL, 19.1 +/- 6.1 and 16.2 +/- 12.1 respectively, with mean HOMA-IR of 1.7+/- 2.2. For HDL-C, mean values were 45.5 +/- 7.8(M) and 52.0+8.8mg/dL (F). Mean urine microalbumin was 13.3 +/- 15.3 mg/min. By NCEP ATPIII Modified Criteria, the prevalence of MS was 2.3 percent, and 7.5 percent were at risk for MS. By WHO Asian Modified Criteria, MS was prevalent in 14.2 percent, and 8.2 percent were at risk for MS. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence for MS among Filipino college students was determined to be 14.2 percent by WHO criteria, and 2.3 percent by NCEP criteria. The risk factors most commonly associated were abnormal HDL-C, blood pressure, FBS, urine microalbumin, insulin resistance and waist-to-hip ratio. These data can assist the Filipino physician to determine if early intervention for management of cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors are necessary even at an early age.