Omar Safarini
O. Safarini, A. Farhoud, I. Mahamid, M. Najjar, A. Owda, M. MohammedAli, A. Thabaleh, A. Mousa, A. Zarour1, Y. Alhabil, Z. Nazzal, B. Damiri. An-Najah National University, Palestine
Background: Cardiovascular disease and diabetes, have become the leading mortality causes among Palestinians. The aim of this study was to determine the association between MetS and the use of different psychostimulants and cognitive enhancers among young Palestinians.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 among university students aged 18-25 years at An-Najah National University in the West Bank. MetS was diagnosed according to National Cholesterol Education Program. The results were analyzed by adjusted multiple logistic regression models. P-value ≤0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The prevalence of the substances in this study was: cigarette smoking (20.2%), waterpipe smoking (28.6%), electronic-cigarettes smoking (5.6%), energy drinks (39%), coffee (83.9%), and black tea (84.7%). MetS prevalence was 9.2% (14.1% in males vs 4.8% in females, p-value 0.001). For cigarette smokers, mean values of triglycerides level (p-value=0.006), systolic blood pressure (p-value<0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (p-value=0.016) were higher than non-smokers. Energy drink consumers had higher levels of triglycerides than non-consumers (p-value=0.015). Tea consumers had decreased mean values of fasting blood sugar (p-value=0.020) than non-users. Cigarette smoking was significantly associated with increased risk of MetS (OR=3.48, p-value=0.009), and black tea consumption was significantly associated with decreased risk of MetS (OR=0.37, p-value=0.032. Waterpipe smokers were at a higher risk of having high triglyceride levels (OR=5.18, p-value=0.027).
Conclusion: Our findings highlight waterpipe smoking as a significant health problem in students with increased triglycerides. They indicate also that cigarette smokers have a higher risk of MetS while black tea consumers have a lower risk of MetS.