Global prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to standardize the global prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in patients with epilepsy. METHODS: Several databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Embase, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were thoroughly searched. Studies up to 2025 on MetS prevalence in people with epilepsy were included. The search covered cross-sectional, cohort, and case-control studies in English that reported MetS prevalence in this group. Statistical analysis was performed using Comprehensive Meta-Analysis software (Version 2). The I² statistic was used to assess heterogeneity across studies, and the random-effects model was applied for data analysis. RESULTS: > 0.01). CONCLUSION: The results highlighted a high prevalence of MetS among patients with epilepsy. Therefore, healthcare professionals should not only focus on epilepsy but also regularly monitor risk factors associated with MetS and identify them early in patients with epilepsy.