TITLE:
Metabolic Syndrome in the Rheumatology Department of the Tsévié Regional Hospital
AUTHORS:
Viwalé Etonam Sika Koffi-Tessio, Kossi Akomola Sabi, Badomta Dolaama, Ridwane Sama, Komi Cyrille Tagbor, Abra Christel Tsowou, Cynthia Deghela, Prenam Houzou, Kodjo Kakpovi, Owonayo Oniankitan
KEYWORDS:
Metabolic Syndrome, Rheumatic Diseases, Risk Factors, Togo
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases,
Vol.16 No.3,
June
26,
2026
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for rheumatic diseases. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome associated with rheumatic diseases in hospital consultations in Togo. Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study in the rheumatology department of the Tsévié Regional Hospital, Togo, from January to December 2023. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the NCEP-ATP III 2005 criteria. Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, metabolic parameters, and rheumatic diagnoses were analyzed. Categorical variables were compared using Pearson’s chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate, and continuous variables using Student’s t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test, depending on distribution. A p-value Results: During the study period, 1184 patients were evaluated. Among them, 812 (68.6%) had at least one metabolic abnormality. Overall, 167 patients fulfilled the criteria for metabolic syndrome, corresponding to a hospital frequency of 14.1%. Among patients with at least one metabolic abnormality, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 20.6%. Patients with metabolic syndrome were predominantly female (88.0%), with a mean age of 49 years ± 10 years. Degenerative rheumatic disorders, particularly spinal osteoarthritis and knee osteoarthritis were the most frequent conditions observed in this group. Significant associations were found between metabolic syndrome and knee osteoarthritis, as well as combined spinal and knee osteoarthritis. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was frequent in this hospital’s rheumatology population. It was mainly observed in women and commonly found in patients with degenerative rheumatic conditions. These findings support the importance of routine metabolic screening in rheumatology practice. Further multicenter studies are needed to better characterize these associations.