The Pooled Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Morocco Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of 32 Studies

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is increasing worldwide. This is becoming a significant public health problem. In Morocco, it is estimated that 94.3% of people aged between 18 and 69 years have at least one risk factor for non-communicable diseases. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to measure the overall prevalence of MetS in the Moroccan population. This systematic review included studies published up to March 20, 2024. Data were retrieved from international databases, including EMBASE, Scopus, and MEDLINE/PubMed. Searches were conducted using the keywords "metabolic syndrome," "prevalence," and "Moroccan." The overall prevalence of MetS was calculated using a random-effects model to account for heterogeneity across studies. A total of 32 studies were conducted in Morocco, with a sample of 13 889 participants. The overall prevalence of MetS in the Moroccan population was 34.68%, with 39.66% in women and 30.51% in men. The pooled prevalence in apparently healthy individuals was 29.41%, which increased to 61.84% in patients with type 2 diabetes, 58.81% in patients with general obesity, 47.09% in patients with hypertension, and 28.29% in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. For an average age under 40 years, the pooled prevalence was 25.44%; for an average age between 40 and 50 years, the pooled prevalence was 25.52%; and for an average age of 50 years or more, the prevalence was 43.23%. The results of this study highlight the huge prevalence of MetS in the Moroccan population, with significant variations depending on the subgroups studied, diagnostic criteria used, and age group, highlighting the urgent need to develop and implement effective strategies to tackle this major public health challenge in Morocco.