Prevalence and Clinical Characteristics of Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Hypertension Attending a Primary Care Unit in Benghazi

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of cardiovascular risk factors that increase the likelihood of having cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality. Despite the pivotal role of hypertension in MetS, statistics on the prevalence of MetS in Libyan patients with hypertension are scarce. This study aimed to ascertain the prevalence and clinical attributes of MetS in adult patients with hypertension at a primary care unit in Benghazi, Libya. A cross-sectional study, conducted from January to June 2020, and included 200 participants. Based on Modified National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III guidelines, the participants were categorized into MetS and non-MetS groups. The data was collected and analyzed using SPSS Statistics software, version 27. The study population comprised 134 females and 66 males with a mean age of 51.32 ± 8.9 years. A significant proportion (73%) met the diagnostic criteria for MetS, with an average age of 52.13 ± 8.6 years, older than non-MetS patients. Females predominated in the MetS group (74.7% vs. 25.3%, p-value < 0.001), displaying a higher metabolic score than males (3.4 ± 0.9 vs. 2.8 ± 1.3, p-value = 0.003). Regarding MetS criteria, 29.5% met three, 27.5% met four, and 16% met all five criteria. MetS patients exhibited significantly higher frequencies and mean values of MetS components compared to non-MetS patients (p-value < 0.001). Notably, high waist circumference was the most prevalent criterion (84%), whereas type II diabetes mellitus had the lowest prevalence (32%). In conclusion, the study underscores the significance of early detection of MetS in patients with hypertension, ultimately contributing to more efficient healthcare delivery for this population in Libya.