Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components in brazilian college students.

Aims and objectives To identify the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components in a population of college students at a public higher education institution in Fortaleza, Brazil. Background Scientific evidence has demonstrated the ascent of the metabolic syndrome in the young population. Design Cross-sectional study of 702 Brazilian college students between January- July 2011. Methods Socio-demographic indicators, life habits and the components of the metabolic syndrome were assessed. anova statistical tests were used to associate gender with the metabolic syndrome components, and the chi-square test to associate the number of metabolic syndrome components with gender and body mass index. Results High fasting venous glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL-C levels were found in 12·3, 23·0, 9·7 and 5·9% of the sample, respectively. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome amounted to 1·7%. Nevertheless, 30·4% of students manifested at least one and 12·4% at least two individual components. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was higher in men (58·3%) and in people who were overweight (33·3%) and obese (41·7%). It is important to implement public health policies to reduce college students' vulnerability to the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions Most college students who displayed ≥3 metabolic syndrome components were men and already indicated being overweight and/or obesity. Relevance to clinical practice It is important that nurses assess the frequency of metabolic syndrome in college students as a predictor of cardiovascular health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]