Metabolic Syndrome: Prevalence and Association with Electrocardiographic Abnormalities in Nigerian Hypertensive Patients

BACKGROUND: Hypertension is an important component of metabolic syndrome, and a third of hypertensive patients have metabolic syndrome, with the common mechanistic pathway believed to be insulin resistance. It is probable that hypertensive patients with metabolic syndrome will have more severe cardiac abnormalities than those without. Similarly, electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities have serious implications for cardiovascular disease outcome. Data on association between metabolic syndrome and ECG abnormalities are scarce in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components in hypertensive patients and possible association of metabolic syndrome with ECG abnormalities in them. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred and thirty-five new adult hypertensive patients were studied in a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Metabolic syndrome prevalence was estimated by National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) criteria. ECG abnormalities were divided into minor and major abnormalities based on Novacode. SPSS IBM 20 was used to analyze data. RESULTS: Mean age was 59.19 ± 13.33 (30-75 years). Metabolic syndrome prevalence was 40.74% (28.85% in males; 48.19% in females). Abnormal waist circumference (58.51%) was the commonest additional component of metabolic syndrome in these patients. ECG abnormalities were in 77.78% of the population, with 49.63% and 28.15% being minor and major abnormalities, respectively. There was no significant association between metabolic syndrome and ECG abnormalities in these patients. CONCLUSION: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in hypertensive patients was high, central obesity being the commonest component of the syndrome. The high prevalence of ECG abnormalities may be more a reflection of the presence of hypertension than any other component of the syndrome.