Prevalence of Metabolic syndrome among the offspring of individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

There is high prevalence of Mets among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, it is not clear whether there is increased prevalence of Mets among their offspring. Therefore, a study was undertaken to determine the prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome (Mets) among the offspring of individuals with type 2 diabetes. Otherwise healthy, forty-eight offspring of diabetic patients in the age group of 15 - 45 years were selected randomly. Data regarding patient characteristics were recorded using a pre-designed questionnaire. Measurement of body weight and blood pressure and investigations including blood glucose and lipid profile were done. Prevalence of Mets was determined by the ATP111 criteria. Five out of forty-eight (11%) offspring of diabetic individuals fulfilled criteria for Mets. The mean age of individual with Mets was 39.2 years (±10.4) and those without Mets were 28.7 years (±9.4). The prevalence of Mets in females was 21.7% whereas no male had Mets in this cohort. The commonest factor that contributes for Mets was HDL less than 40mg/dl (29.2%) followed by TG more than 150mg/dl (22.9%). At baseline 34% (10/29) of patients with type 2 diabetes had Mets which was much higher than that of their offspring. The prevalence of Mets in otherwise healthy offspring of diabetic patients was similar to those reported in general population with a female preponderance. However, the prevalence of Mets in offspring was much lower than the prevalence of Mets in their diabetic parents. Environmental factors more than genetic background may be involved in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome.