title: Prevalence and correlates of metabolic syndrome in pre-crisis Syria: call for current relief efforts.
abstract: This study aimed to assess the prevalence, components and correlates of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in adults in pre-crisis Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic. We used a population-based, 2-stage cluster sampling method in a population of 557 men and 611 women, randomly selected from 83 residential neighbourhoods including many rural settlers. Sociodemographic and lifestyle characteristics, comorbidity, anthropometry and biochemical indices were measured. Prevalence of MetS was estimated at 39.6%, with comparable rates in men and women. Hypertension was the most prevalent component (56.6%), followed by central obesity (51.4%). Among women, education (12 years) was inversely associated with risk of MetS, while family history of obesity and diabetes was associated with an increased risk. The high prevalence of MetS and its components emphasizes the burden of cardiovascular diseases among adults in pre-crisis Aleppo. A system of surveillance and management for cardiovascular diseases needs to be incorporated into the current humanitarian response.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ramadan
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Naja
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon; Syrian Center for Tobacco Studies, Aleppo, Syrian Arab Republic.
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Fouad
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Antoun
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaffa
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chaaban
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haidar
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sibai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012066:Relief Work; D012424:Rural Population; D013593:Syria / Q000453:epidemiology