Relationship between Metabolic Syndrome and Mental Health Status among Geriatric Females: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Postmenopausal status is a known risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome (MetS). Studies focusing on establishing the relationship between Mets and mental health state are limited. Aims and Objective: To identify the frequency of MetS along with its components in geriatric females and assess its relationship with three negative emotional states (depression/anxiety/stress). Materials and Methods: Women aged ≥60 years from October 2020 to March 2022 were included in study. We used the Consensus Definition IDF and AHA/NHLBI (2009) criteria to classify subjects as having metabolic syndrome. Mental health status were assessed using Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21) questionnaire. Results: The frequency of metabolic syndrome in this sample was 36.58% (30 out of 82 patients). The Depression, anxiety, stress scale and total scores in women with MetS were 14 ± 5.3, 8.5 ± 3.92, 12.13 ± 5.58 and 34.66 ± 9.60 as compared to 6.6 ± 3.7, 5.3 ± 2.49, 7.1 ± 3.12 and 19.2 ± 6.51 in those without MetS; difference being statistically significant. Conclusion: MetS results in poor mental health state in geriatric women but large-scale studies are needed to clarify this association.

Keywords

• geriatric females
• mental health
• metabolic syndrome