RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 The epidemic of the metabolic syndrome
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 373
OP 375
VO 26
IS 3
A1 Elabbassi, Wael N.
A1 Haddad, Haissam A.
YR 2005
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/26/3/373.abstract
AB The incidence of metabolic syndrome (MS) is rising worldwide. This is partly due to a significant increase in the prevalence of obesity. Observational cross-sectional studies as well as demographic health surveys from the Middle East, point out that the prevalence of obesity increases from an average of 6% in healthy children to 20% in adolescent males and to a further 32% in elderly patients. The impact of obesity on our population is expected to be considerable; especially, as it feeds into further rising in the prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, MS and cardiovascular disease. The prevalence of MS in nondiabetic adults in Europe was recently reported to be 15%. In the Middle East, as pointed out by pilot observational projects, is estimated to be anywhere between 15-25%. The medical system is unprepared to deal with this epidemic partly due to scanty knowledge on the clinical significance of the MS and importantly as there is a limited number of specific treatments that we can offer these patients.