Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components in brazilian college students

Aims and objectives To identify the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its individual components in a population of college students at a public higher education institution in Fortaleza, Brazil. Background Scientific evidence has demonstrated the ascent of the metabolic syndrome in the young population. Design Cross‐sectional study of 702 Brazilian college students between January–July 2011. Methods Socio‐demographic indicators, life habits and the components of the metabolic syndrome were assessed. anova statistical tests were used to associate gender with the metabolic syndrome components, and the chi‐square test to associate the number of metabolic syndrome components with gender and body mass index. Results High fasting venous glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol and LDL‐C levels were found in 12·3, 23·0, 9·7 and 5·9% of the sample, respectively. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome amounted to 1·7%. Nevertheless, 30·4% of students manifested at least one and 12·4% at least two individual components. The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was higher in men (58·3%) and in people who were overweight (33·3%) and obese (41·7%). It is important to implement public health policies to reduce college students' vulnerability to the metabolic syndrome. Conclusions Most college students who displayed ≥3 metabolic syndrome components were men and already indicated being overweight and/or obesity. Relevance to clinical practice It is important that nurses assess the frequency of metabolic syndrome in college students as a predictor of cardiovascular health.