Association between Components of Metabolic Syndrome and Rheumatic, Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study of Adults in Cyprus

Abstract

Background and Objective: Metabolic syndrome is a common metabolic disorder directly related to the increasing prevalence of obesity and linked to cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, rheumatic, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to examine the association of three components of the metabolic syndrome (hypertension, type  2 diabetes, and obesity) with cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, rheumatic, and CKD, in the adult population of Cyprus.

Methods: Data were obtained from a cross-sectional study conducted in Cyprus from 2018 to 2019. Medical history was collected using a validated questionnaire.

Results: A total of 1140 men and women aged 18 and older participated in the study. The prevalence of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, rheumatic, and CKD was 2.4%, 12.5%, 2.6%, and 1.0%, respectively. Univariate analysis showed that hypertension and central obesity were significant factors in the development of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and rheumatic diseases and CKD.

Conclusion and Implications for Translation: Healthcare practitioners should prioritize the identification and management of risk factors associated with these diseases at the clinical level, including the thorough monitoring of blood pressure as a significant predictor of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and rheumatic diseases. Individualized prevention and treatment strategies should be developed to address these specific risk factors in clinical practice.