Metabolic syndrome in young adults with epilepsy

•Metabolic syndrome can occur in about one-third of adults with epilepsy.•Obesity and hypertriglyceridemia characterized metabolic syndrome in this group.•Valproate use is associated with significantly higher risk of metabolic syndrome.

PurposePersons with epilepsy have higher cardiovascular mortality and morbidity compared to general population and alteration of their biochemical milieu is one of the proposed mechanisms. We aimed to study the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors in young adults with epilepsy and the association with antiepileptic drug use.MethodAn observational study was conducted in persons with epilepsy aged 20–49 years using antiepileptic drugs regularly for the previous three years. The subjects were examined and their blood samples were collected for fasting blood glucose and lipid profile.ResultsOver 18 months, 183 patients (120 males; 63 females) were recruited (mean age 32.5 ± 8.9 years). Metabolic syndrome (MetS) by ATP III criteria was present in 54 (29.5%) subjects. People with MetS in our group had higher frequency of abdominal obesity (50.0%) and hypertriglyceridemia (55.5%) than diabetes/impaired fasting glucose (27.8%). Older age (p = 0.005) and use of valproate (p = 0.012) were associated with significant risk of MetS.ConclusionClinicians need to be vigilant regarding the risk of MetS while initiating treatment and following up persons with epilepsy.