Risk factors for metabolic syndrome in stable Italian renal transplant patients

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in renal transplant recipients (RTR) is still under investigation.

We performed a cross-sectional study of 107 stable RTR who were diagnosed as having MS defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Anthropometric, clinical and biochemical data were collected.

Mean age of the patients studied was 55 ± 11 years (72 male, 35 female), dialysis duration before transplantation 30 ± 31 months, time since transplantation 42 ± 13 months. Mean serum creatinine was 1.68 ± 0.64 mg/dl; creatinine clearance by Cockcroft–Gault formula 53 ± 20 ml/min, glomerular filtration rate by 4-variable MDRD formula 48 ± 18 ml/min/1.73 m². Thirty-seven patients (34.5%) had MS. The MS patients had higher weight (76 ± 13 vs. 68 ± 12 kg, p = 0.0033), body mass index (BMI) (26 ± 4 vs. 24 ± 3 kg/m², p = 0.0025), waist circumference (101 ± 11 vs. 90 ± 11 cm, p < 0.0001), prevalence of BMI >25 k/m² (57 vs. 34%, p = 0.0254), prevalence of diabetes mellitus before transplantation (8 vs. 0%, p = 0.0157), glycaemia (104 ± 31 vs. 87 ± 11 mg/dl, p = 0.0002), and triglyceridaemia (225 ± 105 vs. 112 ± 35 mg/dl, p < 0.0001). They also showed lower levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (48 ± 15 vs. 68 ± 17 mg/dl, p < 0.0001). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that only BMI was independently associated with MS (OR 1.21, 95% CI 1.06–1.37, p = 0.0037).

MS according to NCEP-ATP III criteria appears to be present in about one-third of RTR, and even small increases in BMI above 25 kg/m² may determine the presence of MS in these patients. Therefore the preventive value of lifestyle modifications is very important for such patients, in order to strictly maintain body fat accumulation within the normal range.