title: Metabolic syndrome among obese Qataris attending primary health care centers in Doha, 2010.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among obese patients using the IDF definition and to identify factors that are associated with it.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional randomized study was conducted at four primary care centers inside Doha, Qatar. One hundred and thirty-six Adults, ≥ 18 Qatari obese patients, were chosen by systematic random sampling. They were interviewed and screened for the presence of metabolic syndrome, which was diagnosed according to the International Diabetes Federation criteria: An abdominal circumference ≥ 94 cm in males or ≥ 80 cm in females, plus any two of the following: HDL cholesterol < 1.03 mmol / mL (< 40 mg / dL) [males] or < 1.3 mmol / mL (< 50 mg / dL) [females], Triglycerides ≥ 1.7 mmol / mL (≥150 mg / dL), Blood pressure ≥ 130 / 85 mmHg or the patient receiving antihypertensive treatment and baseline glycemia > 5.6 mmol / mL (> 100 mg / dL), or previously-diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among obese patients was 46.3%. The prevalence was higher in females (50%) than in males (42.4%). It was seen to increase with increasing body mass index class, from class 1 to class 2. The prevalence of metabolic comorbidities of abnormal waist circumference, raised blood pressure, raised fasting blood glucose, high triglycerides, and reduced high density lipoprotein was 88.2, 42.6, 32.4, 31.6, and 27.9%, respectively. Based on the logistic regression multivariable analysis, increasing age and being diabetic were the only significant associated factors that influenced the risk of having the metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was high, and the highest comorbidities were abnormal waist circumference and high blood pressure. Diabetes and increasing age were the only significant risk factors of having this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Family Medicine Departments, Suez Canal University, Egypt, & Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. mansoura70@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Mansoura F S
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Ismail