The prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
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université ammar telidji laghouat ,Faculty of Medicine
Abstract
Theme: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in the region of Laghouat.
Authors: Nafti Rania Dalila / Beroman Nihal Mariane Key words: COPD, metabolic syndrome, prevalence, comorbidities, exacerbations.
Objectives:
ü To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with COPD; ü To assess the association between metabolic syndrome and COPD severity; ü To identify and describe the main comorbidities associated with COPD.
Materials and Methods: This is a cross-sectional descriptive and analytical study conducted over a period of seven months, from july 2025 to April 2026, in the pulmonology department of Colonel Lotfi
Hospital in Laghouat. The study included 18 patients diagnosed with COPD according to GOLD 2024 criteria.
Metabolic syndrome was defined based on harmonized criteria, requiring the presence of at least three metabolic abnormalities. Clinical, functional, and biological data were collected using a standardized data collection form. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS and Sourcetable software, with a significance level set at p < 0.05.
Results:
The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 44.4% (8 out of 18 patients).
The most frequent comorbidities were hypertension (9/18), heart disease (8/18), and diabetes mellitus (4/18).
No significant association was found between metabolic syndrome and airflow limitation severity (FEV₁ or GOLD stage). However, metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with dyspnea severity (p = 0.002), exacerbations (p = 0.001), and hospitalization (p = 0.015).
Description
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and to assess its clinical impact.
The results showed that metabolic syndrome is frequent in this population, affecting nearly half of the patients, indicating a substantial burden of cardiometabolic disorders among individuals with COPD. The high prevalence of hypertension, cardiac disease, and diabetes further highlights the clustering of comorbidities and supports the concept of COPD as a systemic disease.
Although no significant association was observed between metabolic syndrome and airflow limitation severity (FEV₁ or GOLD stage), a strong relationship was found with clinical outcomes. Patients with metabolic syndrome presented more severe dyspnea, as well as a higher frequency of exacerbations and hospitalizations. These findings suggest that metabolic syndrome primarily influences COPD through its systemic and functional impact rather than through spirometric severity.
Compared with the general population, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in COPD patients appears higher, reinforcing the idea that this population represents a high-risk group requiring specific attention.
Despite its limitations, particularly the small sample size and cross-sectional design, this study provides valuable insight into the interaction between COPD and metabolic disorders in a real-world clinical setting.
In conclusion, metabolic syndrome is a common and clinically relevant comorbidity in COPD, associated with worse disease outcomes. These findings underline the importance of systematic screening and comprehensive management of metabolic risk factors in COPD patients.
From a clinical perspective, an integrated and multidisciplinary approach involving pulmonologists, cardiologists, and endocrinologists is essential to improve patient prognosis and reduce disease burden.
Future research should focus on larger, multicenter studies and longitudinal designs to better understand causal relationships and to evaluate the impact of targeted interventions on clinical outcomes
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