Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in secondary school student population in the city of Douala, Cameroon

Nadine Bilog; Elysée Claude Bika Lele; Jerson Mekoulou Ndongo; Yves Julien Mbama Biloa; Josiane Bindi Ngasse Bwegne; Peguy Brice Assomo Ndemba; Noël Babayana Etaga; Samuel Honoré Mandengue; Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa; Abdou Temfemo; Bienvenu Bongue; Jessica Guyot; Clarisse Noel Ayina Ayina

doi:10.4081/jphia.2023.2465

Authors

Nadine Bilog Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala; Physiology and Medicine of Physical Activities and Sports Unit, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Elysée Claude Bika Lele Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala; Physiology and Medicine of Physical Activities and Sports Unit, University of Douala, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2528-9122
Jerson Mekoulou Ndongo Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala; Physiology and Medicine of Physical Activities and Sports Unit, University of Douala, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8291-0953
Yves Julien Mbama Biloa Sainbiose Inserm U1059 Laboratory, Jean Monnet University, Saint‑Étienne, France. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9580-0670
Josiane Bindi Ngasse Bwegne Physiology and Medicine of Physical Activities and Sports Unit, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Peguy Brice Assomo Ndemba Physiology and Medicine of Physical Activities and Sports Unit, University of Douala; Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1 Yaounde, Cameroon.
Noël Babayana Etaga Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala; Physiology and Medicine of Physical Activities and Sports Unit, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Samuel Honoré Mandengue Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala; Physiology and Medicine of Physical Activities and Sports Unit, University of Douala, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0616-1409
Laurent Serge Etoundi Ngoa Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaounde 1 Yaounde, Cameroon.
Abdou Temfemo Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Douala, Cameroon.
Bienvenu Bongue Sainbiose Inserm U1059 Laboratory, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France.
Jessica Guyot Sainbiose Inserm U1059 Laboratory, Jean Monnet University, Saint-Étienne, France.
Clarisse Noel Ayina Ayina
c_ayina@yahoo.fr
Department of Animal Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Douala; Physiology and Medicine of Physical Activities and Sports Unit, University of Douala, Cameroon. https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9736-7292

While the burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is still increasing in sub‑Saharan Africa, there is a lack of data among young Cameroonian population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of MetS and its components among secondary school students in Douala. This was a cross‑sectional prospective study carried out on 803 students recruited from February to May 2021 in public and private secondary schools in Douala city, Cameroon. MetS was assessed according to the IDF/AHA/NHLBI 2009 consensus definition. The data collection consisted of a questionnaire on sociodemographic characteristics, measurement of anthropometric parameters (height, weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference) and overnight fasting blood sample. Blood pressure (BP), fasting blood glucose, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides were measured using standard methods. The mean age was 18±3 years, 73.3% female. The prevalence of MetS was 27.4%, common among participants aged ≥16 years, and higher in females compare to males (33.7% vs. 11.1%, P<0.0001). The prevalence of MetS components i.e abdominal obesity, high BP, fasting hyperglycemia, low‑level HDL cholesterol and hypertriglyceridemia were 14.1, 18.1, 42.8, 51.4 and 38.6% respectively. All MetS components were significantly higher in females compared to males except for high BP which was similar among the genders. In our study population, the prevalence of MetS is high and this calls for improved monitoring to limit the evolution of associated cardiometabolic complications among young Cameroonians.

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Bilog , N., Bika Lele, E. C., Mekoulou Ndongo , J., Mbama Biloa , Y. J., Bindi Ngasse Bwegne , J., Assomo Ndemba , P. B., Etaga, N. B., Mandengue , S. H., Etoundi Ngoa , L. S., Temfemo , A., Bongue , B., Guyot , J., & Ayina Ayina, C. N. (2023). Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its components in secondary school student population in the city of Douala, Cameroon. Journal of Public Health in Africa, 14(9). https://doi.org/10.4081/jphia.2023.2465