Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of conditions including abdominal obesity, high blood pressure, and abnormal blood sugar and lipid levels, is a growing global health concern, yet its global burden remains poorly characterized. Here we show trends in MetS prevalence from 2000 to 2023, based on a systematic review and Bayesian modelling of 3236 data points with 45,549,151 adults. Between 2000 and 2023, prevalence rose from 14.7% (13.1–16.7) to 31.0% (28.5-33.9) among women, and from 9.0% (6.9–12.1) to 25.7% (21.5–31.1) among men. In 2023, an estimated 1.54 billion adults (1.35–1.76) had MetS globally: 846 million (776–924) women and 692 million (579–837) men. Prevalence increased with age, urbanicity, and income level, ranging from 7.5% to 45.0% among women and 6.5% to 59.6% among men across regions. Among both women and men, prevalence increased in 196 countries and territories. These findings call for targeted interventions to address the rising global burden.

Background: Prognostic factors for the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID1–9) are not well established. This study aimed to summarize the available data on the association between the severity of COVID-19 and common hematological, inflammatory and biochemical parameters.Methods: EMBASE, MEDLINE, Web of sciences were searched to identify all published studies providing relevant data. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to pool effect sizes.Results: The bibliographic search yielded 287 citations, 31 of which were finally retained. Meta-analysis of standardized mean difference (SMD) between severe and non-severe COVID-19 cases showed that CK-MB (SMD = 0.68,95%CI: 0.48;0.87;P-value:< 0.001), troponin I (SMD = 0.71, 95%CI:0.42;1.00;P-value:< 0.001), D-dimer (SMD = 0.54,95%CI:0.31;0.77;P-value:< 0.001), prothrombin time (SMD = 0.48, 95%CI:0.23;0.73;P-value:< 0.001), procalcitonin (SMD = 0.72, 95%CI: 0.34;1,11;P-value:< 0.001), interleukin-6 (SMD = 0.93, 95%CI: 0.25;1.61;P-value:0.007),C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD = 1.34, 95%CI:0.83;1.86;P-value:< 0.001), ALAT (SMD = 0.53, 95%CI: 0.34;0,71;P-value:< 0.001), ASAT (SMD = 0.96, 95%CI: 0.58;1.34;P-value:< 0.001), LDH (SMD = 1.36, 95%CI: 0.75;1.98;P-value:< 0.001), CK (SMD = 0.48, 95%CI: 0.10;0.87;P-value:0.01), total bilirubin (SMD = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.18;0.47;P-value:< 0.001), γ-GT (SMD = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.83;1.22;P-value:< 0.001), myoglobin (SMD = 1.14, 95%CI: 0.81;1.47;P-value:< 0.001), blood urea nitrogen (SMD = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.18;0.47;P-value:< 0.001) and Creatininemia (SMD = 0.18, 95%CI: 0.01;0.35;P-value:0.04) were significantly more elevated in severe cases, in opposition to lymphocyte count (SMD = -0.57, 95%CI:-0.71; − 0.42;P-value:< 0.001) and proportion of lymphocytes (SMD = -0.81, 95%CI: − 1.12; − 0.49;P-value:< 0.001) which were found to be significantly lower in severe patients with other biomarker such as thrombocytes (SMD = -0.26, 95%CI: − 0.48; − 0.04;P-value:0.02), eosinophils (SMD = − 0.28, 95%CI:-0.50; − 0.06;P-value:0.01), haemoglobin (SMD = -0.20, 95%CI: − 0.37,-0.03;P-value:0.02), albuminemia (SMD-1.67,95%CI -2.40; − 0.94;P-value:< 0.001), which were also lower. Furthermore, severe COVID-19 cases had a higher risk to have lymphopenia (RR =1.66, 95%CI: 1.26;2.20;P-value:0.002), thrombocytopenia (RR = 1.86, 95%CI: 1.59;2.17;P-value: < 0.001), elevated procalcitonin level (RR = 2.94, 95%CI: 2.09–4.15;P-value:< 0.001), CRP (RR =1.41,95%CI: 1.17–1.70;P-value:0.003), ASAT(RR =2.27, 95%CI: 1.76;2.94;P-value:< 0.001), CK(RR = 2.61, 95%CI: 1.35;5.05;P-value: 0.01), Creatininemia (RR = 3.66, 95%CI: 1.53;8.81;P-value: 0.02) and LDH blood level (RR = 2.03, 95%CI: 1.42;290;P-value: 0.003).Conclusion: Some inflammatory (procalcitonin, CRP), haematologic (lymphocyte, Thrombocytes), and biochemical (CK-MB, Troponin I, D-dimer, ASAT, ALAT, LDH, γ-GT) biomarkers are significantly associated with severe COVID-19. These biomarkers might help in prognostic risk stratification of patients with COVID-19.

To estimate the incidence, prevalence, and correlates of atrial fibrillation (AF) in a global population with rheumatic heart disease (RHD). Bibliographic databases were searched to identify all published studies providing data on AF in patients with RHD. Random-effects meta-analysis method was used to pool estimates. Eighty-three studies were included, reporting data from 75,637 participants with RHD in 42 countries. The global prevalence of AF in RHD was 32.8% (range: 4.3%–79.9%). It was higher in severe valvular disease (30.8% vs 20.7%, p = 0.009), in severe mitral valve disease compared to severe aortic disease (30.4% vs 6.3%, p = 0.038). The global cumulative incidence of AF in patients with RHD was 4.8%, 11.4%, 13.2%, and 30.8% at 1, 2, 5, and 10 years of follow-up, respectively. From comparison between patients with and without AF, AF was associated with increased age (mean difference [MD]: 9.5 years; 95% CI: 7.8–1.3), advanced heart failure (odds ratio [OR]: 4.4; 95% CI 2.1–9.3), tricuspid valve involvement (OR: 4.0; 95% CI: 3.0–5.3), history of thromboembolism (OR: 6.2; 95% CI: 3.4–11.4), highly sensitive C-reactive protein (MD: 5.5 mg/dL; 95% CI: 1.2–9.8), systolic pulmonary arterial pressure (MD: 3.6 mmHg; 95% CI: 0.8–6.3), right atrium pressure (MD: 1.5 mmHg; 95% CI: 1.0–2.0), and left atrium diameter (MD: 8.1 mm; 95% CI: 5.5–10.7). About one-third of patients with RHD have AF, with an incidence which almost triples every five years after diagnosis. Factors associated with AF include age, advanced heart failure, thromboembolism, and few cardiac hemodynamics parameters.

Antipsychotic-induced weight gain is the most prevalent somatic adverse event occurring in patients treated by antipsychotics, especially atypical antipsychotics. It is of particular interest because of its repercussion on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality especially now that the use of second-generation antipsychotics has been extended to other mental health illnesses such as bipolar disorders and major depressive disorder. The mechanism underlying antipsychotics-induced weight gain is still poorly understood despite a significant amount of work on the topic. Recently, there has been an on-going debate of tremendous research interest on the relationship between antipsychotic-induced weight gain and body weight regulatory hormones such as leptin. Given that, researchers have brought to light the question of leptin’s role in antipsychotic-induced weight gain. Here we summarize and discuss the existing evidence on the link between leptin and weight gain related to antipsychotic drugs, especially atypical antipsychotics.

The objective was to summarize existing data on the prevalence of active tobacco smoking among patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus in Africa. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, and AJOL to include studies published from January 01, 2000 to August 23, 2017 reporting on the prevalence of active smoking in individuals aged ≥15 years with hypertension or diabetes mellitus residing inside Africa. We used a random-effects meta-analysis model to pool studies. The pooled prevalence of active smoking among patients with hypertension or diabetes was 12.9% (95%CI: 10.6–15.3; 50 studies; 16,980 patients) and 12.9% (95%CI: 9.6–16.6; 42 studies; 18,564 patients), respectively. For both conditions, the prevalence of active smoking was higher in males than in females (p < 0.001), and in Northern compared to sub-Saharan Africa (p < 0.001). There was no difference between urban and rural settings, and between community-based and hospital-based studies, except for patients with diabetes for whom the prevalence was higher in hospital-based studies (p = 0.032). The prevalence of active smoking is high among patients with hypertension or diabetes mellitus in Africa, with the heaviest burden in Northern Africa. Interventions for smoking prevention or cessation should be implemented in these high risk populations, targeting particularly the males.