Association of Behçet's disease with the risk of metabolic syndrome and its components: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

The present meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the association of Behçet's disease (BD) with the risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components. Observational cohort studies were searched from the Embase, Web of Science, Medline, and Cochrane Library databases. The primary outcome was the association of BD with the risk of MetS and its relevant components. Effect estimates with odds ratios (ORs) were pooled using either the random-effects or fixed-effects models, according to heterogeneity. Leave-one-out sensitivity analyses were used to determine the stability of the results. Twenty-three studies, comprising 42,834 patients with BD, were included. Overall, a significant association between BD and the risk of MetS was found (pooled OR 2.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.61-3.17; P < 0.0001). Among the components of MetS, significant associations were found between BD and diabetes mellitus (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.10-1.33; P < 0.0001), BD and hypertension (OR 1.39; 95% CI 1.13-1.70; P = 0.002), and BD and dyslipidemia (OR 1.21; 95% CI 1.01-1.45; P = 0.04). Our study indicated an association between BD and the risk of MetS and some of its components (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and dyslipidemia). Physician should consider these associations so that specific treatments are available for patients with comorbidities. Moreover, patients with BD should regularly monitor their blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, and blood lipid levels.

Keywords: Behçet’s disease; Diabetes mellitus; Dyslipidemia; Hypertension; Meta-analysis; Metabolic syndrome.

Fig. 1

Selection process for eligible studies included in the systematic review and meta-analysis

Fig. 2

Association between Behçet’s disease and metabolic syndrome. Forest plot for the association between Behçet’s disease and metabolic syndrome

Fig. 3

Forest plots for the association between Behçet’s disease and diabetes mellitus. Observational studies of the association between Behçet’s disease and diabetes mellitus (A). Case–control studies of the association between Behçet’s disease and diabetes mellitus (B)

Fig. 4

Forest plot for the association between Behçet’s disease and dyslipidemia

Fig. 5

Forest plot for the association between Behçet’s disease and hypertension

Fig. 6

Outline to assess methodology and key observations of Behçet’s disease and its association with metabolic syndrome