Prevalence of metabolic phenotypes among citizens of Arctic area of the Russian Federation (in Arkhangelsk city setting)

BACKGROUND: Influence of obesity on the body at whole and with regard to metabolic changes is still unclear. In Russia there are a few data about prevalence of metabolic phenotypes among population based on epidemiological data.

AIM: to assess the prevalence of metabolic phenotypes among citizens of Arctic area of the Russian Federation (in the Arkhangelsk city setting).

MATERIALS AND METHODS: a cross-sectional study was conducted using a random sample of Arkhangelsk citizens (n=2380) 35–69 years old, which was obtained within a population study of cardiovascular diseases («Know your heart» (KYH)). The participants were divided into metabolic phenotypes according to the presence of obesity (BMI≥30 kg/m2) and metabolic syndrome (AHA/NHBLI): phenotype 1 — metabolically healthy normal weight, phenotype 2 — metabolically unhealthy normal weight, phenotype 3 — metabolically healthy obesity, phenotype 4 — metabolically unhealthy obesity.

RESULTS: 2352 participants of KYH were included in the study, 982 (41,8%) men and 1370 (58,3%) women. Mean age was 53,9 (SD 9,7) years. The distribution of participants by metabolic phenotypes was as follows: 1167 (49,6%) persons had phenotype 1, 489 (20,8%) — phenotype 2, 248 (10,5%) — phenotype 3, 448 (19,1%) — phenotype 4. In men, the second common after the first phenotype was phenotype 2, while in women, the second position was shared by the 2nd and 4th phenotypes, which had approximately the same frequency. «Arterial hypertension» was the most prevalent component of metabolic syndrome and seen in 68–96% men and 38–94% women in the study with different phenotypes. The proportions of phenotypes with metabolic disorders increased with age.

CONCLUSION: in a study of a random population sample within the framework of the concept of metabolic phenotypes, a half of the participants had no obesity and metabolic syndrome. Proportions of participants with metabolic disorders with and without obesity was 20% each. Only 10% of participants had «metabolically healthy» obesity. If excluding individuals without obesity and metabolic syndrome, the phenotype characterized by metabolic disorders in the absence of obesity was the most common among men. Phenotypes with metabolic disorders on the background of obesity or without obesity were equally common among women. The most common component of metabolic syndrome was «arterial hypertension». There was a tendency of accumulation of metabolic disturbances with age.

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