Introduction: Metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor for rheumatic diseases. Objective: The aim of the study was to determine the frequency of metabolic syndrome associated with rheumatic diseases in hospital consultations in Togo. Materials and Methods: We conducted a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study in the rheumatology department of the Tsévié Regional Hospital, Togo, from January to December 2023. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the NCEP-ATP III 2005 criteria. Sociodemographic data, clinical characteristics, metabolic parameters, and rheumatic diagnoses were analyzed. Categorical variables were compared using Pearson’s chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test, as appropriate, and continuous variables using Student’s t-test or the Mann-Whitney U test, depending on distribution. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: During the study period, 1184 patients were evaluated. Among them, 812 (68.6%) had at least one metabolic abnormality. Overall, 167 patients fulfilled the criteria for metabolic syndrome, corresponding to a hospital frequency of 14.1%. Among patients with at least one metabolic abnormality, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 20.6%. Patients with metabolic syndrome were predominantly female (88.0%), with a mean age of 49 years ± 10 years. Degenerative rheumatic disorders, particularly spinal osteoarthritis and knee osteoarthritis were the most frequent conditions observed in this group. Significant associations were found between metabolic syndrome and knee osteoarthritis, as well as combined spinal and knee osteoarthritis. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was frequent in this hospital’s rheumatology population. It was mainly observed in women and commonly found in patients with degenerative rheumatic conditions. These findings support the importance of routine metabolic screening in rheumatology practice. Further multicenter studies are needed to better characterize these associations.
Saklayen, M.G. (2018) The Global Epidemic of the Metabolic Syndrome. Current Hypertension Reports, 20, Article No. 12. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-018-0812-z
[3]
Sidiropoulos, P.I., Karvounaris, S.A. and Boumpas, D.T. (2008) Metabolic Syndrome in Rheumatic Diseases: Epidemiology, Pathophysiology, and Clinical Implications. Arthritis Research & Therapy, 10, Article No. 207. https://doi.org/10.1186/ar2397
[4]
Afifi, A.E.M.A., Shaat, R.M., Gharbia, O.M., Boghdadi, Y.E., Eshmawy, M.M.E. and El-Emam, O.A. (2018) Osteoarthritis of Knee Joint in Metabolic Syndrome. Clinical Rheumatology, 37, 2855-2861. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-018-4201-4
[5]
Abourazzak, F., Talbi, S., Lazrak, F., Azzouzi, H., Aradoini, N., Keita, S., et al. (2015) Does Metabolic Syndrome or Its Individual Components Affect Pain and Function in Knee Osteoarthritis Women? Current Rheumatology Reviews, 11, 8-14. https://doi.org/10.2174/1573397111666150522093337
[6]
Oniankitan, O., Fianyo, E. and Mijiyawa, M. (2009) Osteoarthritis of the Knee in Hospital Outpatients in Lomé (Togo). Mali Medical, 24, 4-6.
[7]
Esser, N., Paquot, N. and Scheen, A.J. (2015) Inflammatory Markers and Cardiometabolic Diseases. Acta Clinica Belgica, 70, 193-199. https://doi.org/10.1179/2295333715y.0000000004
[8]
Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (2001) Executive Summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III). JAMA: The Journal of the American Medical Association, 285, 2486-2497. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.285.19.2486
[9]
Koffi-Tessio, V., Oniankitan, S., Hé, C., Ataké, A., Kakpovi, K., Yibé, F., et al. (2022) Profil épidémio-clinique des patients en primo-consultation rhumatologique au CHU Sylvanus Olympio (Lomé-Togo). RhumatologieAfricaine Francophone, 4, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.62455/raf.v4i1.39
[10]
Oniankitan, O., Houzou, P., Koffi-Tessio, V.E.S., Kakpovi, K., Fianyo, E., Tagbor, K.C., et al. (2009) Patterns of Osteoarthritis in Patients Attending a Teaching Hospital Clinic. La Tunisie Médicale, 87, 863-866.
[11]
Savadogo, B., Zabsonré/Tiendrébéogo, W., Kaboré, F., Nzigou, N., Abassiri, K., Nonguierma, V., et al. (2022) Prévalence du syndrome métabolique en consultation rhumatologie en Afrique Subsaharienne. RhumatologieAfricaine Francophone, 3, 1-5. https://doi.org/10.62455/raf.v3i2.33
[12]
Sim？es, D. and Lucas, R. (2020) Exploring the Role of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases in Multimorbidity. In: An Overview and Management of Multiple Chronic Conditions, IntechOpen. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.85434
[13]
Kaoje, Y.S., Mokete, L., Dafkin, C., Pietrzak, J., Sikhauli, K., Frimpong, E., et al. (2025) Cardiometabolic Disease Risk in Relation to Objectively Measured Physical Activity, Sedentary Behaviour in South African Adults with Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis. Disability and Rehabilitation, 47, 2097-2104. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2390670
[14]
Lekpa, F.K., Bebey, F.S., Bouallo, I., Njonnou, S.R.S., Luma, H.N., Singwe-Ngandeu, M., et al. (2022) Gender Difference in the Association between Gout at Diagnosis and Metabolic Syndrome in African Population: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Pan African Medical Journal, 43, Article No. 164. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2022.43.164.37197
[15]
Dessein, P.H., Norton, G.R., Joffe, B.I., Abdool-Carrim, A.T., Woodiwiss, A.J. and Solomon, A. (2013) Metabolic Cardiovascular Risk Burden and Atherosclerosis in African Black and Caucasian Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Study. Clinical and Experimental Rheumatology, 31, 53-61.
[16]
Lala, V., Tikly, M., Musenge, E. and Govind, N. (2022) Comorbidities in Black South Africans with Established Rheumatoid Arthritis. International Journal of Rheumatic Diseases, 25, 699-704. https://doi.org/10.1111/1756-185x.14328
[17]
Sarr, A., Lopez-Sall, P., Ndour-Mbaye, N.M., Diop, S.N., Sarr, G.N., Diop, O., et al. (2012) Fréquence du syndrome plurimétabolique et des anomalies associées au sein d’une population noire au Sénégal: Frequency of Metabolic Syndrome in Black Africans, in Senegal. Médecine des Maladies Métaboliques, 6, 238-243. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1957-2557(12)70405-4
[18]
Jaspers Faijer-Westerink, H., Kengne, A.P., Meeks, K.A.C. and Agyemang, C. (2020) Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, 30, 547-565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.numecd.2019.12.012
