Prevalence of the Metabolic Syndrome in African Populations: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

July 2023 in “ PLoS ONE ”

Arnol Bowo‐Ngandji, Sébastien Kenmoe, Jean Thierry Ebogo‐Belobo, Raoul Kenfack‐Momo, Guy Roussel Takuissu, Cyprien Kengne-Ndé, Donatien Serge Mbaga, Serges Tchatchouang, Josiane Kenfack‐Zanguim, Robertine Lontuo Fogang, Elisabeth Zeuko’o Menkem, Juliette Laure Ndzie Ondigui, Ginette Irma Kame‐Ngasse, Jeannette Nina Magoudjou‐Pekam, Maxwell Wandji Nguedjo, Jean Paul Assam Assam, Damaris Enyegue Mandob, Judith Laure Ngondi

TLDR Metabolic syndrome is common in African populations, needing urgent prevention and treatment.

This systematic review and meta-analysis assessed the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in African populations, using data from 297 studies with 156,464 participants across 29 countries. The overall prevalence of MS was 32.4%, with higher rates in adults over 18 years (33.1%) compared to children under 18 years (13.3%), and in females (36.9%) compared to males (26.7%). The prevalence was particularly high among patients with Type 2 diabetes (66.9%), coronary artery disease (55.2%), and cardiovascular diseases (48.3%). The southern African region and upper-middle-income economies exhibited the highest prevalence rates. The study underscores the urgent need for early prevention and treatment strategies to address the high prevalence of MS in Africa, despite limitations such as variability in diagnostic criteria and lack of specific ethnic cut-offs for waist circumference.