Prevalence and associated factors of metabolic syndrome among a national population-based sample of 18–108-year-olds in Iraq: results of the 2015 STEPS survey

Background: This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) among 18–108-year-old persons in Iraq. Method: Nationally representative cross-sectional data were analysed from 3703 18–108-year-old persons (32 years median age) that participated in the “2015 Iraq STEPS survey,” with complete MetS measurements. Results: Results indicate that 39.4% of 18–108 year-olds had MetS (harmonized definition), 39.8% among women and 39.0% among men, and the mean number of MetS components was 2.4 (SD=1.4), 2.4 (SD=1.4) among women and 1.5 (SD=1.4) among men. In adjusted logistic regression analysis, aged 60–108 years (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 6.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.82–9.29), current smoking (AOR 1.38, 95% CI 1.01–1.90), past smoking (AOR 1.54, 95% CI 1.00–2.36), general overweight (AOR 4.87, 95% CI 3.07–5.63) and obesity (AOR: 8.33, 95% CI: 6.27–11.07) were associated with MetS. In adjusted linear regression analysis, aged 60–108 years (beta 1.21, 95% CI 1.06 to 1.37), male sex (beta 0.23, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.34), overweight (beta 0.77, 95% CI 0.64 to 0.90) and obesity (beta 1.27, 95% CI 1.13 to 1.40) were positively and having more than primary education (beta −0.22, 95% CI −0.34 to −0.09) was negatively associated with greater number of MetS components. Conclusion: Two in five participants had MetS and several associated indicators were found which could be supportive in designing intervention activities.