Metabolic syndrome and social deprivation

Abstract

The metabolic syndrome is a set of disorders responsible for an increased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. Social deprivation is defined as the lack of [one or more of the prerequisites of] security, enabling persons to assume their responsibilities into the society and to enjoy basic rights. A review of the literature published over the past 16 years (2000-2016) was performed to analyze the association between metabolic syndrome and social deprivation. Of the 652 references reviewed for title and abstract, 78 studies were selected and 55 articles were considered. The absence of uniformity in the measures used to assess metabolic syndrome and social deprivation requires some modulation of the results of our analysis. The studies were classified according to the Human Development Index (HDI) of the countries where they took place. The principal risk factors identified for metabolic syndrome are a low educational level (women especially), low income, occupation (specifically an unskilled job or absence from the labor force), and greater socioeconomic deprivation, measured by composite indices. These results are stable according to HDI level. In conclusion, access to education, the possibility of superior education, and the acquisition of occupational credentials are three themes to prioritize in developing public health policies, irrespective of the country's level of development.