Framingham risk assessment of metabolic syndrome patients at a tertiary hospital in Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is an increasingly important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Combination of risk factors for CVD can be seen in the metabolic syndrome (MS), which can be computed to get an assessment of an individual's risk for future cardiovascular events. Aims: We aimed to determine the Framingham risk assessment of MS patients at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of newly diagnosed patients with MS using the International Diabetes Federation criteria. Anthropometry and clinical data were obtained, and fasting blood glucose and lipid concentrations were also determined. Framingham risk assessment was calculated and categorized as <10%: low risk, 10–20%: intermediate risk, and >20%: high risk for future CVD. Results: There were 120 patients (females 82, males 38) with mean ages of 52 ± 13.5 years and 54 ± 14.2 years, respectively (P = 0.46). Framingham risk assessment showed 56 (47%) patients comprising of 42 females and 14 males had low risk; 31 (26%) patients comprising of 24 females and 7 males had intermediate risk while 32 (27%) patients comprising of 16 females and 16 males had high risk for CVD. The risk assessment significantly correlated with age, systolic blood pressure, and total and high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Majority of the males had high 10-year risk for CVD while most of the females had low risk. Men may need to intensify strategies to reduce modifiable risk factors for CVD.