Mbugua Samuel Mungai, Kimani Samuel Thuo, Munyoki Gilbert
Mount Kenya University, School of Nursing, Thika, 342-01000, Kenya.
University of Nairobi, College of Health Sciences, School of Nursing Sciences, P.O Box 19676, KNH, Nairobi, Kenya.
BMC Public Health. 2017 Nov 28;17(1):909. doi: 10.1186/s12889-017-4936-x.
Metabolic syndrome refers to a cluster of interrelated disorders which occur together causing an increase in the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The university population is an understudied group despite the increase in the frequency of related disorders and metabolic risk factors e.g. obesity and diabetes, majorly due to the assumption that they are in their most active phase of life therefore healthy. This study looked at metabolic syndrome, the sedentary lifestyles and dietary habits present among university students attending Mount Kenya University, main campus.
Stratified sampling was used to select participants. Self-administered questionnaires were issued to participants after a signed consent had been obtained following which clinical assessments and biochemical measures were performed. They included blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, anthropometric measurements; height, weight, BMI and waist circumference. Pearson's chi-square tests and non-parametric independent t-test were used to analyze the prevalence of metabolic syndrome criteria per gender, the number of metabolic syndrome criteria per BMI and prevalence of metabolic syndrome criteria per BMI category.
The study established that 1.9% of the participants met the criteria for diagnosis of metabolic syndrome according to HJSS criteria. Among the elements, there was statistical difference in gender BMI and waist circumference. 11.8% of subjects had two metabolic syndrome components while 3.1% had three components while none of the subjects had all six components. Elevated triglycerides was the most prevalent defining component for metabolic syndrome. There is a statistically significant relationship between sedentary lifestyle and dietary habits as risk factors to metabolic syndrome.
Young adults in university have begun developing metabolic syndrome and the risk of developing the syndrome continues to increase with the components being reported in early age. Educational initiatives to encourage healthy eating should be conducted within school premises in order to reinforce the message on healthy diets and physical exercise. Pre-admission screening to identify at risk students should be conducted. Targeted interventions development through a mandatory extra co-curricular program should be enforced to positively engage those at risk.
代谢综合征指的是一系列相互关联的病症，这些病症共同出现会增加患心血管疾病和糖尿病的风险。尽管与代谢综合征相关的疾病以及肥胖和糖尿病等代谢风险因素的发生率有所上升，但大学生群体仍是一个研究不足的群体，主要原因是人们认为他们正处于生命中最活跃的阶段，因此很健康。本研究关注了就读于肯尼亚山大学主校区的大学生中的代谢综合征、久坐不动的生活方式和饮食习惯。
采用分层抽样来选择参与者。在获得参与者签署的同意书后，向他们发放自填式问卷，随后进行临床评估和生化检测。这些检测包括血压、空腹血糖、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、人体测量指标；身高、体重、体重指数和腰围。使用Pearson卡方检验和非参数独立t检验来分析按性别划分的代谢综合征标准患病率以及按体重指数划分的代谢综合征标准数量和按体重指数类别划分的代谢综合征标准患病率。
该研究确定，根据HJSS标准，1.9%的参与者符合代谢综合征的诊断标准。在各项因素中，性别、体重指数和腰围存在统计学差异。11.8%的受试者有两个代谢综合征组成部分，3.1%的受试者有三个组成部分，而没有受试者有全部六个组成部分。甘油三酯升高是代谢综合征最常见的决定性组成部分。久坐不动的生活方式和饮食习惯作为代谢综合征的风险因素之间存在统计学上的显著关系。
大学生中的年轻人已开始出现代谢综合征，且随着该综合征的组成部分在早期就被发现，患该综合征的风险持续上升。应在校园内开展鼓励健康饮食的教育活动，以强化有关健康饮食和体育锻炼的信息。应进行入学前筛查，以识别有风险的学生。应通过强制性的课外项目制定有针对性的干预措施，以积极促使有风险的学生参与进来。
