Burden of Metabolic Syndrome and Associated Factors among Commercial Motor Drivers in Zaria, Nigeria

Background: Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of cardiometabolic abnormalities that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease. Commercial motor drivers are an occupational group particularly predisposed to metabolic syndrome due to sedentary work patterns, prolonged driving hours and unhealthy lifestyle practices. Data on metabolic syndrome among commercial drivers in northern Nigeria are limited. The study objective is to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its associated factors among commercial motor drivers in Zaria, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 238 commercial motor drivers in Zaria. Sociodemographic data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Blood pressure, anthropometric indices, random blood glucose and urine protein were measured. Metabolic syndrome was defined using a modified World Health Organization criterion as the presence of diabetes mellitus plus at least one of the following: hypertension, obesity or proteinuria. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and logistic regression, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05. Results: All respondents were male, with a mean age of 42.3 ± 12.3 years. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 6.3%, hypertension 58.0%, obesity 16.4% and proteinuria 22.7%. Metabolic syndrome was present in 14 of 224 respondents (prevalence of 5.9%). Diabetes mellitus was significantly associated with hypertension (OR = 5.10; p = 0.028) and obesity (OR = 3.84; p = 0.011) on bivariate analysis. Metabolic syndrome was more prevalent among drivers aged over 40 years and those with more than 20 years of driving experience, although these associations were not independent predictors on multivariate analysis. Conclusion: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among commercial motor drivers in Zaria was relatively low using the modified WHO criteria; however, there was a high burden of individual cardiometabolic risk factors, particularly hypertension and proteinuria.