Association between Metabolic Syndrome and Health-related Quality of Life among Individuals with Normal and Impaired Glucose Regulation: Findings from Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study

Recent studies have shown that metabolic syndrome is associated with poor health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Moreover, it is shown that the prevalence of MetS and impaired glucose regulation, which are shown to have negative impact on HRQoL, overlap. This study aimed to investigate the association between HRQoL and metabolic syndrome (MetS) considering glucose regulation status in a sample of non-diabetic Tehranian adults.
This was a cross-sectional study conducted within the framework of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS).Logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CIs) in normal and impaired glucose regulation. Cochran’s Mantel-Haenszel test was used to test the homogeneity of the odds ratios for reporting poor HRQoL in those with MetS in two groups of normal and impaired glucose regulation.
Totally, 946 participants were studied. After adjustment for age and educational level in women, MetS showed a significant negative impact on physical functioning and bodily pain in those with impaired glucose regulation and physical role limitation in normal glucose regulation group. In impaired glucose regulation group, women with MetS were more likely to report poor physical functioning (OR: 2.86, CI: 1.02-2.79), and bodily pain (OR: 2.96 CI: 1.09-8.04). In women with normal glucose regulation, poor physical role limitation was significantly associated with MetS. This association was not seen in men in either group. Based on the test of homogeneity of odds ratio, the association between MetS and HRQoL in those with normal and impaired glucose regulation was different in role physical subscale.
The current study showed that in both normal and impaired glucose regulation groups, MetS was associated with poor physical HRQoL in women but not men.