title: The prevalence and risk factors of the metabolic syndrome in inpatients with intellectual disability.
abstract: The aim of this study is to explore the prevalence and influencing factors of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in people with intellectual disabilities (IDs) and behavioural problems in a Dutch special healthcare institution.
  
  
  
  This observational study was conducted from medical records of physical examinations, laboratory results, medication (history), ethnicity and length of stay, as well as from questionnaires about lifestyle and smoking habits. MetS was defined by using the criteria of the 2009 consensus guidelines. The questions in this study were about the prevalence of MetS over a 1-year period and exploration of the differences between the people with and without MetS to determine the factors associated with it.
  
  
  
  The overall prevalence of MetS in the selected population of people with IDs and behavioural problems was 46%. The factors 'use of conventional antipsychotics', 'age', and a ' low nutrition score' increased the risk of developing MetS. Together, these variables determine 19% of the variance in the incidence of MetS.
  
  
  
  The study indicates a firm prevalence of MetS in a vulnerable population, whereby a minority of contributing factors was determined. Professionals should be particularly alert during the provision of antipsychotics, diet and exercise habits to prevent MetS when treating people with IDs and behavioural problems, and further studies are needed to explore the factors that contribute to the nascence and prevalence of MetS.
authors.affiliation: Trajectum, Zwolle, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Room
authors.affiliation: Centre for Research and Innovation in Care, University Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.|Professorship Healthy Region, HZ University of Applied Sciences, Vlissingen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Timmermans
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine, University Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roodbol
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: antipsychotics; cardiovascular risk; diet; exercise; intellectual disabilities; metabolic syndrome