title: The prevalence and the clinical characteristics of metabolic syndrome patients admitted to the cardiac care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a group of multiple cardiovascular risk factors, including dysglycemia, central obesity, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Cardiovascular disease is one of the most common complications of MetS. Recent studies showed that prevalence of MetS among patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome was as high as 46%.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a cross-sectional study of 203 patients at the two main hospitals in Ta'if, Saudi Arabia. Patients older than 18 years who were admitted to the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) between the months of August 2013 and June 2014 were asked to participate. MetS diagnosis was made based on the International Diabetes Federation definition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 203 patients participated, with 59.1% male and 40.9% were female. The mean age was 60.9 years with a mean body mass index of 28.97 kg/m(2) and a mean waist circumference of 95.45 cm. The prevalence of MetS was 47.8%, primarily among obese female patients who reported sedentary lifestyles. Additionally, MetS patients were more likely to be admitted with heart failure (p < 0.05) and more likely to have moderate-to-severe left-ventricular hypertrophy (LVH; p < 0.05) relative to non-MetS patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Of the patients admitted to the CCU, 47.8% had MetS, with those patients likely to be female and obese. Furthermore, MetS patients were more likely to be admitted with heart failure and suffer from moderate-to-severe LVH.
authors.affiliation: Ta'if University, Ta'if, aSaudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ziyad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Alakkas
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology and Internal Medicine, Ta'if University, Ta'if, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Khaled A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Alswat
authors.affiliation: Ta'if University, Ta'if, aSaudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Mohammed Al
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Otaibi
authors.affiliation: Ta'if University, Ta'if, aSaudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Turki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Althobaiti
authors.affiliation: Ta'if University, Ta'if, aSaudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Nazih
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alzaidi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Ta'if, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: El-Shazly Abdul
authors.initials: el-SA
authors.lastname: Khalek
authors.affiliation: Division of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz Specialist Hospital, Ta'if, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Abdulaziz
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alfifi
keywords: Cardiac Care Unit (CCU); Heart failure; Metabolic syndrome