Predictors of metabolic syndrome and its components in patients with type 2 diabetes: A cross-sectional study in the Ho municipality, Ghana

Background: Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of risk factors that individually or synergistically increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. The predictors of metabolic syndrome are thought to vary between populations and ethnicities. Hence, this study aimed to investigate the factors predicting metabolic syndrome and its components among patients with type 2 diabetes in the Ho municipality.Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was designed to include 197 patients with type 2 diabetes at the Ho Municipal Hospital. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain data on demography and lifestyle variables. Anthropometric, haemodynamic, and biochemical parameters were measured. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the harmonised criteria. Renal function was evaluated based on the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI)] and the evidence of proteinuria. Chi-square test and logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the predictors of metabolic syndrome and its components.Results: Overall, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 59.90 %. Females had higher odds of metabolic syndrome [OR: 2.64, 95 % CI: 1.48-4.71; p = 0.001], abdominal obesity [OR: 11.49, 95 % CI: 5.18-25.49, p < 0.001], and low HDL-C levels [OR: 17.67, 95 % CI: 4.73-65.99, p < 0.001]. Having a family history of diabetes increased the risk of metabolic syndrome [OR: 1.94, 95 % CI: 1.09-3.54, p = 0.023] and abdominal obesity [OR: 2.60, 95 % CI: 1.25-5.42, p = 0.011]. Having diabetes for 5 years or more was associated with uncontrolled FBG [OR: 4.75, 95 % CI: 1.25-17.98, p = 0.022] and low HDL-C levels [OR: 4.52, 95 % CI: 1.64-12.45, p = 0.004]. Attainment of secondary education increased the risk of abdominal obesity [OR: 5.73, 95 % CI: 1.46 - 22.49, p = 0.012], while the attainment of tertiary education increased the risk of low HDL-C [OR: 4.20, 95 % CI: 1.09 - 16.24, p = 0.038]. Physical inactivity was associated with metabolic syndrome [OR: 2.19, 95 % CI: 1.12 - 4.28, p = 0.022]. Being older than 50 years had a two-fold increased risk of elevated BP [OR: 2.53, 95 % CI: 1.36-4.69, p = 0.003]. However, females were about 56 % unlikely to be associated with elevated BP [OR: 0.44, 95 % CI: 0.23-0.84, p = 0.013].Conclusion: The female gender, family history of diabetes, and longer duration of diabetes as well as attainment of secondary and tertiary level education and physical inactivity were significant predictors of metabolic syndrome and its components in patients with type 2 diabetes.