Metabolic syndrome and quality of life: a systematic review.
Patrícia Pozas Saboya, Luiz Carlos Bodanese, Paulo Roberto Zimmermann and 3 others
PMID 27901223WHAT IT FOUND
Most included studies found metabolic syndrome was linked to worse quality of life, especially in women.
Lifestyle intervention studies also reported better quality of life. The review does not prove metabolic syndrome caused it.
Key findings
01Most included studies found metabolic syndrome was linked to worse quality of life.
02The association was often limited to women or to the physical health domain.
03Lifestyle intervention studies reported improved quality of life in people with metabolic syndrome.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Most included studies were cross-sectional, so they show association, not cause. Different quality of life instruments were used, so the findings are hard to combine. Study populations came from different countries and cultures, which limits generalisation. The review excluded small samples and people with another important disease, so it may not apply to patients with complex comorbidities. Some studies found the association only in women, or only with depression or BMI.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read this as proof that metabolic syndrome causes lower quality of life. Most included studies were cross-sectional, and some associations disappeared after adjustment for depression, BMI or other factors.