Diseases (Jun 2022)

Neck Circumference as a Screening Tool for Metabolic Syndrome among Lebanese College Students

  • Suzan A. Haidar,
  • Nanne de Vries,
  • Kalliopi-Anna Poulia,
  • Hussein Hassan,
  • Mohammad Rached,
  • Mirey Karavetian

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/diseases10020031
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 2
p. 31

Abstract

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Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of symptoms that, when present, increase the risk for cardiovascular disease. There is a need for reliable screening tools that are ethnically sensitive. Two hundred and sixty-six college students were assessed anthropometrically. They had a fasting blood sample drawn, and blood pressure measured. They then completed a demographic questionnaire and The International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ). The prevalence of MetS was found to be 10.1% in males and 4.5% in females. Neck circumference (NC) was positively associated with BMI in males (r = 0.55, p p p p p p 38 cm in males and NC> 36 cm in females were found to be appropriate cut-offs for diagnosing MetS. NC is a reliable and non-invasive screening tool that can be used to screen for MetS in males. NC could also serve as an anthropometric instrument to assess abdominal obesity and could be valuable for college students.

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