Skin Diseases and Diabetes · Journal article

DEGENERATIVE DISORDERS, METABOLIC SYNDROME AND FUNCTIONAL IMPACT IN RHEUMATOLOGY IN CHAD: A COMPARATIVE STUDY WITH AUTOINFLAMMATORY DISEASES AND CONNECTIVE TISSUE DISEASES

World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews · August 17, 2026

Preliminary Why this matters to you Expert discussion

Early or partial results. Treat as a signal, not a conclusion.

AI Summary

This retrospective cross-sectional study from a single Chadian hospital documents that metabolic syndrome prevalence varies across rheumatic disease types, with connective tissue diseases showing the highest burden (40.9%) and greatest functional impairment. The findings are descriptive and geographically limited, requiring validation in prospective or multicentre cohorts before informing practice.

What was studied

Retrospective cross-sectional comparative study. Patients with connective tissue diseases, degenerative disorders, or autoinflammatory diseases meeting 2005 IDF metabolic syndrome criteria, followed at the National Reference Hospital (CHURN) in N'Djamena, Chad.. n = 330. National Reference Hospital (CHURN), N'Djamena, Chad.

Key findings

Metabolic syndrome prevalence 40.9% in connective tissue diseases, 34.3% in degenerative disorders, 24.8% in autoinflammatory diseases Connective tissue diseases: abdominal obesity 93.7%, hypertension 88.1%, hyperglycemia 66.5% SF-36 functional scores significantly lower in connective tissue disease group (50.2 ± 10.3) vs degenerative (56.8 ± 11.1) and autoinflammatory (59.7 ± 10.8); p < 0.01

Safety

Safety was not reported in the material analysed. Check the source before drawing any conclusion about harm.

Who this may help

Clinicians in sub-Saharan Africa caring for rheumatic disease patients should recognize that metabolic syndrome is substantially more prevalent and functionally impactful in connective tissue diseases, warranting intensified cardiovascular risk screening and multidisciplinary management in this subgroup. However, results are from a single centre and require validation before adoption in other settings.

Plain-language summary

Retrospective cross-sectional study from a single centre describing prevalence patterns and associations in a resource-limited setting, without intervention or causal inference, requiring confirmation in prospective or comparative designs.

Study design

As stated by the source record.

MethodsRetrospective review of 5,000 patients with rheumatic diseases followed from January 2018 to May 2024. Among these, 330 met 2005 IDF criteria for metabolic syndrome and were stratified into three disease groups: connective tissue diseases, degenerative disorders, and autoinflammatory diseases. Clinical, biological, and functional data (SF-36, DAS28, BASFI, WOMAC) were extracted and analysed using SPSS version 25.0.

DesignRetrospective cross-sectional comparative study

PopulationPatients with connective tissue diseases, degenerative disorders, or autoinflammatory diseases meeting 2005 IDF metabolic syndrome criteria, followed at the National Reference Hospital (CHURN) in N'Djamena, Chad.

Sample size330

SettingNational Reference Hospital (CHURN), N'Djamena, Chad

Reported figures

Quoted from the source exactly as published.

Metabolic syndrome prevalence (connective tissue diseases)40.9%

Metabolic syndrome prevalence (degenerative disorders)34.3%

Metabolic syndrome prevalence (autoinflammatory diseases)24.8%

Abdominal obesity (connective tissue diseases)93.7%

Hypertension (connective tissue diseases)88.1%

Hyperglycemia (connective tissue diseases)66.5%

SF-36 mean score (connective tissue diseases)50.2 ± 10.3

SF-36 mean score (degenerative disorders)56.8 ± 11.1

Clinical bottom line

Caveats

Single-centre, retrospective design limits generalisability beyond N'Djamena and introduces selection and recall bias
Distribution of patients across the three disease groups not reported; unclear if stratified sample sizes are adequate for subgroup comparisons
No comparison group without rheumatic disease; cannot determine if MS prevalence is elevated relative to the general Chadian population
Cross-sectional design does not establish temporal or causal relationships between rheumatic disease type and MS or functional outcomes

Evidence assessment

Graded across the dimensions that decide whether you should act, each from what the source actually supports. There is no single score, and where a dimension was not assessed it says so.

Study design

moderate

Retrospective cross-sectional comparative design; observational, no randomisation or control group

Directness

moderate

Directly addresses prevalence and characteristics; functional outcomes measured with validated instruments

Consistency

insufficient

Single-centre study; no comparison with other populations or external replication reported

Risk of bias

limited

Retrospective design; selection criteria and completeness of case ascertainment not detailed

Sample adequacy

moderate

330 patients with MS from 5,000 screened; adequate for prevalence description but stratified groups not fully sized

Source abstract

Objective: To compare the prevalence and characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MS) according to the type of rheumatic disease, including connective tissue diseases, degenerative disorders, and autoinflammatory diseases, in Chad. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, comparative study was conducted in the Department of Internal Medicine of the National Reference Hospital (CHURN) in N’Djamena from January 2018 to May 2024. Among 5,000 patients followed for various rheumatic diseases, 330 met the 2005 International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria for MS. Patients were classified into three groups: connective tissue diseases, degenerative disorders, and autoinflammatory diseases. Clinical, biological, and functional data (SF-36, DAS28, BASFI, and WOMAC) were analyzed using SPSS version 25.0. Results: The prevalence of MS was 40.9% among patients with connective tissue diseases, 34.3% among those with degenerative disorders, and 24.8% among those with autoinflammatory diseases. Connective tissue diseases showed the highest rates of abdominal obesity (93.7%), hypertension (88.1%), and hyperglycemia (66.5%). Functional scores were significantly more impaired in the connective tissue disease group (mean SF-36 score = 50.2 ± 10.3) compared with the degenerative (56.8 ± 11.1) and autoinflammatory groups (59.7 ± 10.8; p < 0.01). Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome was more prevalent and had a greater impact among patients with connective tissue diseases than among those with other rheumatic diseases in Chad. A multidisciplinary approach is necessary to reduce cardiovascular complications in this high-risk population.

Follow from this

Taken from the source record, never inferred. Follow any of these and new work involving them reaches your briefing.

Adama BahAli Mahamat MoussaMoustapha NiasseRamadhane BouchraneG AzizSkin Diseases and Diabetes