title: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and health-related quality of life in war-related bilateral lower limb amputees.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lower limb amputation is correlated with considerable impairments in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in veterans. The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in veterans with bilateral lower limb amputation and to identify its association with HRQOL.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was conducted on 235 Iranian male veterans with bilateral lower limb amputation. Demographics, anthropometrics, and biochemical measurements were assessed and MetS was defined by National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III definition. HRQOL was assessed using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) questionnaire which measures eight health-related domains. The scores were compared between two groups of bilateral lower limb Amputees who have diagnosed with and without MetS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The response rate was 40.7% and the mean age of the amputees was 52.05 years. 62.1% of participants were suffering from MetS (95% CI: 55.9%-68.4%). Patients with MetS were observed to have higher weight, waist and hip circumferences, FBS, TG, LDL and liver enzymes concentrations (P< 0.05). Although scores on all 8 subscales of SF-36 were low, no significant difference was observed in HRQOL scores between amputees with and without MetS. Moreover, the risk of MetS was not significantly different across subjects in the highest compared to the lowest quartile category of HRQOL scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence of MetS in veterans with bilateral lower limb amputation was higher and their HRQOL was lower compared to general population. Some strategies are needed to reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases among this susceptible population.
authors.affiliation: Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular -Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hanieh-Sadat
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Ejtahed
authors.affiliation: Janbazan Medical and Engineering Research Center (JMERC), Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad-Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Soroush
authors.affiliation: Obesity and Eating Habits Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Molecular -Cellular Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.|Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hasani-Ranjbar
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center, Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Pooneh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Angoorani
authors.affiliation: Prevention Department, Janbazan Medical and Engineering Research Center (JMERC), No.17, Farokh st, Moghadas Ardebili st, Yaman st, Chamran Ave, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Batool
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Janbazan Medical and Engineering Research Center (JMERC), Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehdi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Masumi
authors.affiliation: Endocrine and Metabolic Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Edjtehadi
authors.affiliation: Endocrine and Metabolic Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Science, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mahmood
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Soveid
keywords: Lower limb amputees; Metabolic syndrome; Quality of life; Veterans