Vol. 7, Issue 2, Part B (2024)

Abstract: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a major public health concern marked by a cluster of interconnected risk factors, including hypertension, obesity, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia. This study was aimed to assess the prevalence and associated sociodemographic factors of MetS in a rural population in southern Nigeria. Conducted at Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital in Edo State, Nigeria, the study involved 75 out of 6,400 screened patients, selected using simple random sampling based on the World Health Organization's MetS criteria for adults. The results indicated a MetS prevalence of 1.2%, with a higher prevalence among females (65.3%) than males (34.7%). The majority of cases (47%) were middle-aged individuals (45-64 years) (p<0.05), while the age group 18-25 years had the fewest cases (2.7%). Among the patients, 73.3% were farmers, 4% were petty traders, and 2.7% were carpenters, with bankers, secretaries, hairdressers, and students each accounting for 1.3%. Most patients had a low level of education (84%), with 42% being females and 21% males, while 16% had tertiary education. Furthermore, 40% of patients with low education levels were in the middle-aged group (45-64 years). Christians made up 98.7% of the sample, with Muslims comprising 1.3%, reflecting the predominantly Christian population of southern Nigeria. The findings underscore age, gender, and socioeconomic status as risk factors for MetS.