Original Article https://doi.org/10.70084/mru/pmrcc/00044.P34

Epidemiology of Metabolic Syndrome in Western Sudan

Eldisugi Hassan Mohammed Humida^1,2,3,4, Awad Abdalla Mohamed⁵, Ahmed A. Suliman⁵, Namarig Alhadi Hamid², Msaged Adam Edres Mohammed ⁴,Amal Khalil Yousif Mohammed^1,6

Affiliations

¹Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kordofan, El-Obeid, Sudan; ²EL-Obeid Teaching Hospital, El-Obeid, Sudan.

³Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, EL-Obeid International Hospital, El-Obeid, Sudan.

⁴Prof Medical Research Consultancy Center (MRCC), El-Obeid, Sudan.

⁵Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum.

⁶Aldaman International Hospital, El-Obeid, Sudan.

Correspondence to: Eldisugi Hassan Mohammed Humida, Email: heldisugi@gmail.com

Cite: Humida, et al. Epidemiology of Metabolic Syndrome in Western Sudan. Medical Research Updates Journal 2026;4(4):25-35. https://doi.org/10.70084/mru/pmrcc/00044.P34

ABSTRACT

Background: Metabolic Syndrome (MetS), associated with hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, represents a significant global health concern. This study aimed to explore the epidemiology of MetS in Western Sudan. Methodology: This study is a prospective descriptive clinic-based investigation conducted at Prof. Medical Complex in Prof. Medical Research Consultancy Center (Prof. MRCC) located in El-Obeid city, the capital of North Kordofan State, Sudan, covering the period from January 1, 2025, to April 3, 2026. We applied the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria for diagnosing MetS. Results: Men made up 56% of the total, whereas women accounted for 44%. The analysis of waist circumference (WC) among participants, alongside high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride (TG) levels, revealed that 5.7% exhibited abnormalities indicative of metabolic syndrome. Additionally, 28.6% had low HDL-C levels coupled with high TG levels, while 12.4% presented with low HDL levels and elevated WC. Individuals exhibiting elevated TG levels and high WC constituted 7.5% of individuals. The relationship between male sex and the risk of low HDL-C is demonstrated by a relative risk (RR) of 1.385, with a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) spanning from 1.178 to 1.628 and a P-value of <.001. Conclusion: The prevalence of MetS in Western Sudan was 5.7%, with a notably higher rate observed in males. The prevalence of low HDL-C levels surpassed global averages, although it was marginally lower than findings from sub-Saharan Africa. Hypertriglyceridemia levels aligned with sub-Saharan data and were slightly elevated compared to the global range. The findings underscore the necessity for public health interventions, particularly in promoting regular physical activity and encouraging healthy dietary habits.

Keywords: metabolic syndrome; dyslipidemia; hypertriglyceridemia; low HDL cholesterol; visceral obesity; Sudan.