Metabolic syndrome and health-related quality of life: unraveling the role of gender (A SUMS employees cohort-based study)

In this study, the prevalence of MetS was 9.3%, with a higher prevalence in men (10.3%) than in women (8.5%). Women with MetS reported significantly lower overall HRQOL scores compared to women without MetS (β = -1.89, p< 0.001), while no such association was found in men (β = 0.05, p = 0.922). Additionally, a significant gender-dependent interaction was observed, with a stronger association between MetS and lower physical HRQOL scores in women than in men (β = -3.17 vs. β = -2.17). Findings highlight a gender-specific pattern in the association between MetS and reduced HRQOL, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions.