Distribution of conventional lipids in Indians with premature coronary artery disease: A substudy of the premature coronary artery disease registry

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and associated risk factors among tribal adolescents of Gujarat

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Metabolic syndrome is rising at an alarming rate in developing countries. In India, increasing influence of urbanization in the rural areas is responsible for transition in lifestyle and diet of the indigenous people. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and the associated risk factors among the adolescents of Kukana tribe of Valsad district, Gujarat.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 296 adolescents (128 boys and 168 girls) aged 14-19 years. Semi-structure interview schedule including demographic characteristics like age, sex, clan, native village was administered. Anthropometric measurements (height, body weight, waist circumference), systolic and diastolic blood pressure, biochemical tests were recorded. Data was entered in MS-Excel, and SPSS was used to analyse descriptive statistics (mean and standard deviations), frequencies and test of significance such t-test and chi-square. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and associated risk factors was determined by National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III modified for adolescents by Cook's criteria.

RESULTS

Overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome was estimated as 3.8%, with sex-wise prevalence found to be 3.9% and 3.6% in boys and girls, respectively. Low High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol was the most prevalent individual risk factor observed in the present study.

CONCLUSION

This study is the first study which assessed metabolic syndrome and its components in tribal adolescents in India. Tribal communities are susceptible a triple burden of diseases. Micro-level and grassroot community-based studies should be designed and carried out in tribal communities, in order to provide better healthcare deliveries.