Metabolic syndrome and combat post-traumatic stress disorder intensity: Preliminary findings

Background: Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been associated with co-morbidity of many major mental and somatic disorders as well as with premature mortality. Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between combat-related PTSD, metabolic syndrome and its components as well as between PTSD severity and metabolic syndrome. Methods: Metabolic syndrome and its components were investigated in 100 male war veterans with combat PTSD and in 79 males who needed medical attention in a family medicine dispensary. Results: Metabolic syndrome according to the modified NCEP: ATP III criteria was found in 35% of our PTSD patients. Metabolic syndrome and intensity of PTSD were significantly related. Metabolic syndrome was identified in 66.7% of the war veterans with high intensity of PTSD in comparison to 23.3% of the veterans with low intensity PTSD. Conclusions: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components is elevated in war veterans with PTSD. PTSD is a multi-systemic disorder and treatment of war veterans with PTSD should address co-morbid somatic disorders including metabolic syndrome in addition to the clinical features of PTSD.