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Metabolic syndrome is associated with impaired health-related quality of life: Lapinlahti 2005 study

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Abstract

Purpose

Association of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) with Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) is poorly documented. Our objective was to examine this association in an adult general population.

Methods

In our cross-sectional community-based health survey in a semirural Finnish community, we invited all the adults (n = 760) of eight birth cohorts between 30 and 65 years, of which 480 (63%) participated. A 15-dimensional, standardized HRQoL instrument (15D) was used to measure the main outcome, and the National Cholesterol Education Programme (NCEP) 2005 criteria were used for MetS classification.

Results

The prevalence of MetS was 38%. MetS was significantly associated with impaired HRQoL (P < 0.001) measured by the 15D score. Participants with MetS were statistically significantly worse off than participants without MetS in the dimensions of mobility (P < 0.001), hearing (P = 0.021), breathing (P < 0.001), usual activities (P = 0.001), discomfort and symptoms (P = 0.002), vitality (P = 0.003), and sexual activity (P = 0.008). In a logistic regression analysis, a significant association persisted between MetS and impaired HRQoL (OR = 1.9).

Conclusions

MetS seems to be associated closely with perceived HRQoL at community level. Therefore, reduction of risk factors of MetS may improve HRQoL.

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Abbreviations

15D:

15-Dimensional instrument for measuring health-related quality of life

BMI:

Body mass index

DEHKO:

Development programme for the prevention and care of diabetes in Finland

HRQoL:

Health-related quality of life

IDF:

International Diabetes Federation

LRA:

Logistic regression analysis

MetS:

Metabolic syndrome

MID:

Minimal clinically important difference

NCEP:

National Cholesterol Education Programme

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the Lapinlahti residents who took part in the study. We would also like to thank the staff members of the Lapinlahti Primary Health Care Centre and Kuopio University Hospital Medical Laboratory for their contribution to the study. This study would not have been possible without the financial support of the Lapinlahti Municipality and the Development Programme for the Prevention and Care of Diabetes in Finland (DEHKO/D2D) through the Northern Savo Hospital District.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Family Practice Unit, Kuopio University Hospital & University of Kuopio, P.O. Box 1777, 70211, Kuopio, Finland

    Juhani Miettola

  2. Department of Medicine, Kuopio University Hospital & University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland

    Leo K. Niskanen

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Kuopio University Hospital & University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland

    Heimo Viinamäki

  4. Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Harri Sintonen

  5. Family Practice Unit, Kuopio University Hospital & University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland

    Esko Kumpusalo

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  1. Juhani Miettola
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Correspondence to Juhani Miettola.

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Miettola, J., Niskanen, L.K., Viinamäki, H. et al. Metabolic syndrome is associated with impaired health-related quality of life: Lapinlahti 2005 study. Qual Life Res 17, 1055–1062 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9386-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-008-9386-6

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