Download LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS IN METABOLIC SYNDROME

LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS IN METABOLIC SYNDROME
Leanne Cutajar, Lilian M. Azzopardi, Anthony Serracino-Inglott
Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Malta, Msida, Malta
email: [email protected]
DEPARTMENT OF PHARM
ACY
UNIVERSI
TY OF MA
LTA
Department of Pharmacy
INTRODUCTION
AIMS
Patients suffering from metabolic syndrome have an
increased risk for cardiovascular disease and developing
1
type 2 diabetes . With about 40,000 Maltese suffering
from diabetes, early identification of patients at risk of
developing metabolic syndrome (MS) is essential to
minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with
the syndrome.
 To assess the local prevalence of MS
METHOD
University of Malta
 To evaluate the significance, if any, of a reinforced
lifestyle intervention
SETTING
Diabetes and Endocrine outpatient clinic at Mater Dei
Hospital, Malta
RESULTS
Hundred type-2 adult diabetics with a BMI>25
were recruited by convenience sampling.
 Sixty-nine patients (mean age: 61 years) completed the
study, of whom 63 suffered from MS at baseline.
 Of these, 25 patients comprised the intervention group
Baseline weight (wt), waist circumference, fasting
blood glucose (FBG) level, blood pressure (BP), HDLcholesterol and triglycerides were recorded.
with 13 applying for the weight management program
and 1 patient completing it entirely.
 Patients satisfying all five of the MS criteria decreased
Intervention group (n=33)
Control group (n=67)
*Followed up 3 times+
Continue standard care
 Wt management program
 Aerobics classes
 Information leaflets
from 17 to 12 for the intervention group and increased
from 20 to 23 for the control group over 1 year.
 A greater decrease in mean weight, FBG level, systolic
and diastolic blood pressure readings was observed for
the intervention group.
 The improvement in mean HDL-c (p=0.001) and
A questionnaire to assess lifestyle habits and identify
any influencing incentives and barriers was conducted
with all volunteers.
triglycerides (p=0.010) were both significant for the
control group. Mean HDL-c improvement for the
intervention group was also significant (p=0.025).
However, during the study lipid lowering medications
Biological markers, any changes in medications or
relevant remarks were re-obtained after one year.
Figure 1: The 5 most common incentives to achieve a
healthier lifestyle (n=69)
were increased for 12 control group patients and only 3
intervention group patients.
Figure 2: The 5 most common barriers to achieve a
healthier lifestyle (n=69)
CONCLUSION
Most of the patients (91.3%) recruited at baseline suffered from metabolic syndrome. Patients were not keen to follow the weight
management programs. Despite this, an improvement was observed in some parameters in the intervention group. The fact that
these patients were followed-up 3 times during the study period and given written information may have contributed. A higher
number of patients in the control group had their medications increased and this could have influenced the lipid parameter
comparison between the groups. Major limitations included the small sample size, lack of motivation from the patients’ end and
time-frame. Pharmacists should be proactive in helping patients overcome barriers to achieve healthier lifestyles.
Reference: 1 International Diabetes Federation. IDF worldwide definition of the metabolic syndrome *Internet+. 2006 *cited 2013 Jul 20+. Available from: http://www.idf.org/metabolic-syndrome