Metabolic Syndrome and Rheumatic Diseases in Chad: Prevalence, Associated Factors and Clinical Impact
Keywords:
Chad, metabolic syndrome, rheumatic diseases, comorbidities, quality of life, Sub-Saharan Africa
Abstract
Objective: To assess the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and its clinical impact among patients with rheumatic diseases in Chad.
Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, analytical study was conducted at the HRT Rheumatology Department from January 2018 to May 2024. Among 5000 patients, 330 fulfilled IDF and 214 WHO criteria for MS. Clinical, laboratory, and therapeutic data, as well as functional scores (Short Form-36 (SF-36), Disease Activity Score in 28 joints (DAS28), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC)), were systematically analyzed.
Results: MS prevalence was 6.6% (IDF) and 4.3% (WHO). The cohort was predominantly female (88.7%), with a mean age of 49.8 ± 12.4 years. The most frequent components were abdominal obesity (93.0%), hypertension (89.7%), and hyperglycemia (64.8%). Associated diseases included connective tissue disorders (40.9%), degenerative conditions (34.3%), and autoinflammatory diseases (24.8%). After a mean two-year follow-up, functional and quality-of-life scores improved, although 13 patients developed cardio-renal complications. This retrospective single-center design may limit the generalizability of our findings. Conclusions: MS is common among rheumatology patients in Chad and worsens disease prognosis. Systematic screening and multidisciplinary management are essential to improve outcomes and quality of life.
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References
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18. Dao HH, Do QT, Sakamoto J. Increased frequency of metabolic syndrome among Vietnamese women with early rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study. Arthritis Res Ther. (2010);12(6):R218. doi:10.1186/ar3203
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20. Hee JY, Tan YZ, Fong W-W, et al. Metabolic syndrome and its effect on the outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis: A multi-ethnic cohort in Singapore. Int J Rheum Dis. (2022);25(8):935–42. doi:10.1111/1756-185X.14338
21. Apostolopoulos D, Vincent F, Hoi A, Morand E. Associations of metabolic syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus Sci Med. (2020);7(1):e000436. doi:10.1136/lupus-2020-000436
22. Loganathan A, Kamalaraj N, El-Haddad C, Pile K. Systematic review and meta-analysis on prevalence of metabolic syndrome in psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Int J Rheum Dis. (2021);24(9):1112–20. doi:10.1111/1756-185X.14147
23. Abourazzak FE, Mansouri S, Najdi A, et al. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Morocco: A cross-sectional study of 179 cases. Clin Rheumatol. (2014);33(11):1549–55. doi:10.1007/s10067-014-2570-x
24. Eldin AB, ElBakry SA, Morad CS, Aly MH. The impact of metabolic syndrome on rheumatoid arthritis in a cohort of Egyptian patients. Egypt Rheumatol. (2018);40(1):7–10. doi:10.1016/j.ejr.2017.09.005
25. Tekaya R, Rouached L, Ben Ahmed H, et al. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis and association with disease outcomes: A Tunisian study. Indian J Rheumatol. (2022);17(4):359–63. doi:10.4103/injr.injr_122_21
26. Cai W, Tang X, Pang M. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Med. (2022);9:855141. doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.855141.
27. Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Daniels SR, Donato KA, Eckel RH, Franklin BA, Costa F. Diagnosis and management of the metabolic syndrome: An AHA/NHLBI scientific statement. Circulation. (2005);112(17):e285–90. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.169404.
28. agheri-Hosseinabadi, Z., Moadab, F., & Abbasifard, M. (2024). Prevalence and contributing factors of metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis patients. BMC Endocrine Disorders, 24(1), 140. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-024-01675-5 .
29. Luo, P., Xu, W., Ye, D., Chen, W., Ying, J., Liu, B., Li, J., Sun, X., He, Z., Wen, C., & Mao, Y. (2024). Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis: A prospective cohort study including 369,065 participants. The Journal of Rheumatology, 51(4), 360–367. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.2023-0349 .
30. Grzechnik, K., Targońska-Stępniak, B., & Sierakowska, M. (2023). Metabolic syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis activity. Nutrients, 15(22), 4745. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15224745.
31. Santos-Moreno, P., Rodríguez-Vargas, G.-S., Martínez, S., Ibatá, L., & Rojas-Villarraga, A. (2022). Metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome in adult rheumatoid arthritis patients: Current perspectives and clinical implications. Open Access Rheumatology: Research and Reviews, 14, 255–267. https://doi.org/10.2147/OARRR.S285407.
32. N’Soundhat, N. E. L., & Teddy, T. (2025). Metabolic syndrome in ambulatory rheumatology consultation in the city of Brazzaville, Congo. Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases, 15(4), 123-131. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojra.2025.154017.
2. Crowson, C. S., Myasoedova, E., Davis, J. M., Matteson, E. L., Roger, V. L., Therneau, T. M., … Gabriel, S. E. (2013). Increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome associated with rheumatoid arthritis in patients without clinical cardiovascular disease. Journal of Rheumatology, 40(11), 1795–1802.
3. González-Gay, M. A., & González-Juanatey, C. (2017). Inflammation, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis: Linking mechanisms to clinical practice. Rheumatology, 56(1), 7–19.
4. Motala, A. A., Esterhuizen, T., Pirie, F. J., & Omar, M. A. K. (2011). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome and determination of the optimal waist circumference cutoff points in a rural South African community. Diabetes Care, 34(4), 1032–1037.
5. Peters, M. J., van Halm, V. P., Voskuyl, A. E., Lems, W. F., Smulders, Y. M., Visser, M., … Nurmohamed, M. T. ((2009)). Does rheumatoid arthritis equal diabetes mellitus as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease? A prospective study. Arthritis & Rheumatism, 61(11), 1571–1579.
6. Toms, T. E., Panoulas, V. F., John, H., Douglas, K. M. J., & Kitas, G. D. (2012). Metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis: Association with disease activity, duration and cardiovascular risk factors. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 71(9), 1506–1512.
7. Savadogo, B., Zabsonré/Tiendrébéogo, W. J. S., Kaboré, F., Nzigou, N., Abassiri, K. A. E., Nonguierma, V., Ouédraogo, A., & Ouédraogo, D. D. (2022). Prévalence du syndrome métabolique en consultation rhumatologie en Afrique subsaharienne. Rhumatologie Africaine Francophone, 3(2), 1–5.
8. Abandazegoué-Andjembé, L. C., Khadiri, A., Diallo, S., Niasse, M., Alkassan, Y., Diouf, C., Diaw, C. A. B., Guèye, Y. A. N., & Bouchrane, R. (2023), 8–10 mars). Syndrome métabolique et pathologies rhumatologiques : étude de 373 observations au Sénégal (CO06). Dans Livre du programme et des résumés, Congrès STR/SARh, Lomé, Togo. Rhumatologie Africaine Francophone, 5(2), p. 21.
9. Nouvedji, K. A., Diallo, M. L., Lokou, P., Gbedey, G., Tiadjéri, M., Koffi-Tessio, V. E. S., Tagbor, C., Dzono-Assoumou, J. G., Fianyo, E., Kakpovi, K., Houzou, P., Oniankitan, O., & Mijiyawa, M. (2023), 8–10 mars). Syndrome métabolique et affections rhumatismales à Kara (CO07). Dans Livre du programme et des résumés, Congrès STR/SARh, Lomé, Togo. Rhumatologie Africaine Francophone, 5(2), pp. 21–22.
10. Zomalheto, Z., Gounongbe, M., & Dossou-Yovo, H. (2017). Influence of metabolic syndrome in low back pain in Benin people. Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases, 7(3), 153–157.
11. Alkassan, Y. (2019). Syndrome métabolique et pathologies rhumatismales : étude de 330 observations (Mémoire de médecine, Université Cheikh Anta Diop). Bibliothèque numérique UCAD, cote memm_2019_0658.
12. Toms TE, Panoulas VF, Douglas KMJ, Griffiths HR, Kitas GD. Methotrexate therapy associates with reduced prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis patients over the age of 60 - a cross-sectional study. Arthritis Res Ther. (2009);11(5):R110. doi:10.1186/ar2765
13. Grzechnik K, Targońska-Stępniak B. Metabolic syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis activity. Nutrients. (2023);15(8):1825. doi:10.3390/nu15081825
14. Özmen M, Yersal Ö, Öztürk S, Ataman Ş. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis. Eur J Rheumatol. (2014);1(1):1–4. doi:10.5152/eurjrheum.2014.001
15. Šalamon L, Morović-Vergles J, Marasović-Krstulović D, et al. Differences in the prevalence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis: A multicentric study. Rheumatol Int. (2015);35:2047–57. doi:10.1007/s00296-015-3307-0
16. Luo P, Xu W, Ye D, et al. Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis: A prospective cohort study including 369.065 participants (UK Biobank). J Rheumatol. (2024);51(4):360–7. doi:10.3899/jrheum.2023-0349
17. Chung CP, Oeser A, Solus JF, Avalos I, Gebretsadik T, Shintani A, Stein CM. Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome is increased in rheumatoid arthritis and is associated with coronary atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis. (2008);196(2):756–63. doi:10.1016/j.atherosclerosis.2007.01.004
18. Dao HH, Do QT, Sakamoto J. Increased frequency of metabolic syndrome among Vietnamese women with early rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study. Arthritis Res Ther. (2010);12(6):R218. doi:10.1186/ar3203
19. Pandey PK, Misra R, Agarwal V. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in treatment-naïve rheumatoid arthritis patients. Arch Rheumatol. (2017);32(4):317–24. doi:10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2017.6318
20. Hee JY, Tan YZ, Fong W-W, et al. Metabolic syndrome and its effect on the outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis: A multi-ethnic cohort in Singapore. Int J Rheum Dis. (2022);25(8):935–42. doi:10.1111/1756-185X.14338
21. Apostolopoulos D, Vincent F, Hoi A, Morand E. Associations of metabolic syndrome in systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus Sci Med. (2020);7(1):e000436. doi:10.1136/lupus-2020-000436
22. Loganathan A, Kamalaraj N, El-Haddad C, Pile K. Systematic review and meta-analysis on prevalence of metabolic syndrome in psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis. Int J Rheum Dis. (2021);24(9):1112–20. doi:10.1111/1756-185X.14147
23. Abourazzak FE, Mansouri S, Najdi A, et al. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis in Morocco: A cross-sectional study of 179 cases. Clin Rheumatol. (2014);33(11):1549–55. doi:10.1007/s10067-014-2570-x
24. Eldin AB, ElBakry SA, Morad CS, Aly MH. The impact of metabolic syndrome on rheumatoid arthritis in a cohort of Egyptian patients. Egypt Rheumatol. (2018);40(1):7–10. doi:10.1016/j.ejr.2017.09.005
25. Tekaya R, Rouached L, Ben Ahmed H, et al. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis and association with disease outcomes: A Tunisian study. Indian J Rheumatol. (2022);17(4):359–63. doi:10.4103/injr.injr_122_21
26. Cai W, Tang X, Pang M. Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis. Front Med. (2022);9:855141. doi:10.3389/fmed.2022.855141.
27. Grundy SM, Cleeman JI, Daniels SR, Donato KA, Eckel RH, Franklin BA, Costa F. Diagnosis and management of the metabolic syndrome: An AHA/NHLBI scientific statement. Circulation. (2005);112(17):e285–90. doi:10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.105.169404.
28. agheri-Hosseinabadi, Z., Moadab, F., & Abbasifard, M. (2024). Prevalence and contributing factors of metabolic syndrome in rheumatoid arthritis patients. BMC Endocrine Disorders, 24(1), 140. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12902-024-01675-5 .
29. Luo, P., Xu, W., Ye, D., Chen, W., Ying, J., Liu, B., Li, J., Sun, X., He, Z., Wen, C., & Mao, Y. (2024). Metabolic syndrome is associated with an increased risk of rheumatoid arthritis: A prospective cohort study including 369,065 participants. The Journal of Rheumatology, 51(4), 360–367. https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.2023-0349 .
30. Grzechnik, K., Targońska-Stępniak, B., & Sierakowska, M. (2023). Metabolic syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis activity. Nutrients, 15(22), 4745. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu15224745.
31. Santos-Moreno, P., Rodríguez-Vargas, G.-S., Martínez, S., Ibatá, L., & Rojas-Villarraga, A. (2022). Metabolic abnormalities, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic syndrome in adult rheumatoid arthritis patients: Current perspectives and clinical implications. Open Access Rheumatology: Research and Reviews, 14, 255–267. https://doi.org/10.2147/OARRR.S285407.
32. N’Soundhat, N. E. L., & Teddy, T. (2025). Metabolic syndrome in ambulatory rheumatology consultation in the city of Brazzaville, Congo. Open Journal of Rheumatology and Autoimmune Diseases, 15(4), 123-131. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojra.2025.154017.
Published
2025-10-31
How to Cite
Abdel Aziz, G. H., Bouchrane, R., Bah, A., Mouandilmadji, D. M., Abdel Aziz, H. H., Niasse, M., & Diallo, S. (2025). Metabolic Syndrome and Rheumatic Diseases in Chad: Prevalence, Associated Factors and Clinical Impact. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 21(30), 38. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2025.v21n30p38
Section
ESJ Natural/Life/Medical Sciences
Copyright (c) 2025 Garba Harine Abdel Aziz, Ramadhane Bouchrane, Adama Bah, Djikoldinguem Marschall Mouandilmadji, Hamid Harine Abdel Aziz, Moustapha Niasse, Saidou Diallo
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
