What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Metabolic syndrome (n=617). Intervention: Metabolic syndrome vs. No metabolic syndrome. Primary outcome: Electrocardiographic abnormalities.

What question did this study set out to answer?

This study aims to explore the relationships between components of metabolic syndrome and electrocardiographic abnormalities with a focus on gender differences.

July 18, 2026Scientific Reports0 citationsOpen Access

Gender-specific associations between metabolic syndrome components and electrocardiographic abnormalities: evidence from Birjand University of medical sciences employee health study (BUMS EHCS)

MPMostafa Parizadeh MBMahnaz Bahrami SKSamira Karbasi

Key Result

Metabolic syndrome in women was associated with higher heart rate, prolonged PR interval, and widened QRS duration, whereas no significant electrocardiographic differences were observed in men.

Key Points

This study aims to explore the relationships between components of metabolic syndrome and electrocardiographic abnormalities with a focus on gender differences.
Cross-sectional study involving 617 staff from Birjand University of Medical Sciences
Data collection through questionnaires, clinical exams, lab tests, and ECG recordings
Compared metabolic syndrome scores and CVD risk factors between genders using SPSS, with a significance level of P ≤ 0.05.
13% of participants had metabolic syndrome, significantly higher waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, and triglycerides in those with MetS
In women with MetS, heart rate, PR interval, and QRS duration were significantly higher; no significant changes in men's ECG
Heart rate showed a score-related association with metabolic syndrome (p < 0.05), others remained stable.

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=617)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does metabolic syndrome associate with electrocardiographic abnormalities in a gender-specific manner among university staff?

Population

617 university staff members aged over 30 years were evaluated to examine gender-specific associations between metabolic syndrome components and electrocardiographic abnormalities.

Exposure

Presence of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) defined by ATP III criteria

Comparator

Absence of Metabolic Syndrome

Outcome

Electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities (heart rate, PR interval, QRS duration, QT interval)surrogate

Metabolic syndrome is associated with modest electrocardiographic changes in women but not men, suggesting potential gender-specific cardiodynamic variations.

Limitations

Cross-sectional design precludes causal inferences regarding the relationships between metabolic syndrome components and electrocardiographic variations.
Low prevalence of metabolic syndrome (13%) resulting in small subgroup sample sizes and reduced statistical power.
Multiple hypothesis testing without formal alpha-inflation corrections increases the susceptibility to Type I errors.
Lack of detailed documentation regarding concurrent medication use, such as antihypertensive drugs and lipid-lowering agents.

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Metabolic syndrome (MetS), which consists of a group of metabolic risk factors, greatly elevates the risk of CVD. This study aimed to examine gender-specific associations between MetS components and electrocardiographic (ECG) abnormalities. This cross-sectional study included 617 staff members aged > 30 years from Birjand University of Medical Sciences. Data were collected through standardized questionnaires, clinical examinations, laboratory tests, and ECG recordings. MetS is defined based on the ATP III criteria as the presence of at least three risk factors. Data were entered into SPSS, and analyses were conducted at a significance level of P ≤ 0.05 to compare MetS scores and associated CVD risk factors between genders. Of the 617 participants studied, 261 (42%) were male and 356 (58%) were female (mean age 39 ± 7.6 years). Among these, 536 individuals (87%) did not have MetS, while 81 individuals (13%) had MetS. Individuals with MetS showed significantly higher WC, BP, FBS, and TG, but lower HDL, age, and education levels compared to participants without MetS. In women with MetS, heart rate, PR interval, and prolonged QRS duration were significantly higher, while QT interval was lower; no significant ECG differences were found in men. Findings suggest that ECG parameters remain relatively stable across increasing MetS scores, with heart rate being the only parameter showing a score-related association ( p < 0.05). This study highlights potential gender-specific cardiodynamic variations in relation to metabolic syndrome components. While certain distinct associations were observed between MetS components and ECG parameters in women, these differences were modest, suggesting that gender-specific screening could be considered alongside general metabolic risk evaluations. Although ECG, as a simple and noninvasive tool, represents a valuable window into the complex interplay between metabolic and electrophysiological health.

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