European Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences

WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE AND ITS CORRELATION WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME IN WOMEN ATTENDING GYNAECOLOGY OPD IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTRE IN PONDICHERRY, INDIA

Nirmala Jaget Lakkawar*, Padma Alaganandam and S. Yasodha

ABSTRACT

Obesity and Metabolic syndrome are important risk factor for cardio-metabolic diseases, including diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and coronary heart disease (CHD). Several leading national and international institutions, including the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health, have provided guidelines for classifying weight status based on Body Mass Index (BMI). The present study was carried out to identify the co-relation between waist circumference and other risk factors with metabolic syndrome and to ascertain their significance. This is a prospective observational study conducted in Out Patient Department (OPD) of a tertiary care centre with a study population of 200 patients attending OPD with any gynaecological problem having waist circumference > 80 cm. All the patients were between the ages 18-58 years. 21% of women belonged to high socioeconomic status and 44% and 35% belonged to middle and low socioeconomic status, respectively. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome was seen in 50.5% of women, which was directly proportional to the increased waist circumference. The study concluded that waist circumference is directly related to prevalence of metabolic syndrome, which is on increase due to sedentary life style. Such patients are also prone to cardio-vascular diseases and hormonal imbalance, specifically hypothyroidism.

Keywords: waist circumference, metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, diabetes, women.