Neck circumference and cardiometabolic syndrome in adult patients at a tertiary hospital in Lagos, Nigeria: A cross-sectional study

Background: Cardiometabolic syndrome (CMS) is an emerging problem of public health importance in low- and middle-income countries like Nigeria, resulting in a significant increase in morbidity and mortality. Studies from other regions have suggested using neck circumference (NC) values for predicting CMS. This study explores the utility of this approach among patients seen at a tertiary facility in Lagos, Nigeria. Methods: This was a hospital-based, descriptive cross-sectional study. Participants were adult patients managed and seen in the follow-up clinics of the endocrinology unit. NC of >37 cm or >34 cm in males and females was considered abnormal. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 28.0. Results: A total of 202 patients were recruited (mean age [standard deviation]: 61.5 [12.2] years). The prevalence of CMS was 79.2%, with hypertension being the most prevalent cardiometabolic risk (85.1%). The mean NCs were 38.9 (4.2) cm for men and 36.0 (2.9) cm for women, with 67.8% of participants having abnormal values. NC was significantly correlated with diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P = 0.028), but not other components of CMS among participants. On receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis, NC was not significantly predictive of CMS (females: area under the curve [AUC]: 0.616 [P = 0.068]; males: AUC: 0.0469 [P = 0.080]). Conclusion: This study revealed a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among participants. There was a significant correlation between NC and other anthropometric indices, but not with the components of CMS, except DBP. On ROC analysis, NC was not significantly related to CMS. The study's findings suggest that NC is not a useful predictor of CMS in this population.