Dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome among apparently healthy adolescents in Nigerian Secondary Schools: A Preliminary Investigation

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a group of risk factors that occur together, increases the possibility of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. In MetS, blood pressure and blood sugar are elevated, excess body fat accumulate around the waist and there is dyslipidemia (abnormally high blood cholesterol levels). Most of the disorders related with MS have no symptoms. Objective To determine the prevalence of dyslipidemia and other risk factors for metabolic syndrome among apparently health adolescents in Secondary Schools in Lagos, Nigeria. Materials and Methods An institution-based, cross-sectional, descriptive study was conducted from October 2019 to March 2020. Multi-stage sampling approach was used to recruit 624 adolescent students in secondary schools in Lagos State of Nigeria. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire and fasting venous blood samples were collected for serum glucose and lipid profile analysis. Systolic and diastolic blood pressures were appropriately measured. Data were analyzed using NCSS version 22 (Kaysville, Utah, USA). Relevant statistical analyses were performed and p-value < 0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results Overall, the median values (mg/dl) of triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (T-Chol), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were 180.8, 199.4, 289.6 and 55.9 respectively. Isolated lipid profile abnormality of hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) and low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C) were observed in 70.5%, 49.7%, 85.9%, and 24.7% study participants. The overall prevalence of metabolic (MetS) was 5.9%) more frequent among males 7.5%, mid-adolescents (8.2%) and among overweight subjects (20.0%). Conclusion Fasting blood sugar and lipid profiles as well as blood pressure and anthropometric indices of adolescents in secondary schools were evaluated for dyslipidemia and metabolic syndrome. A high proportion of them presented with hypertriglyceridemia and metabolic syndrome, especially males, those in mid adolescents and those overweight. A nation-wide, multi-center and multi-disciplinary study of metabolic syndrome should be conducted, through implementation of routine screening, for early recognition of and appropriate intervention measures on, identified risk factors, and for the treatments and prevention of metabolic syndrome in adolescents.