Frecuencia relativa de síndrome metabólico en la población transexual. Relación con la dieta

Abstract

Background and aims. The cardiovascular risk of patients under cross-sex hormone therapy (CSHT) for gender reassignment has been scarcely studied. The main objective of this doctoral thesis was to describe the relative frequency of the metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), emerging risk factors and alimentary disturbances in patients under CSHT; as well as to establish the relationship between these characteristics. Methods. A descriptive study with two analytical models was performed: a transversal (157 patients with clinical data before and/or after CSHT), and a longitudinal (99 patients with clinical and paraclinical information, both basal and after CSHT). Onehundred patients were evaluated with an alimentary and socioeconomic standardized structured questionnaire. Results. CSHT confers a high cardiovascular risk, increasing the occurrence of metabolic disturbances, especially in the female-to-male group. The risk for MetSyn did not change after CSHT. Diet was of low quality and physical exercise was practiced poorly. Diet characteristics were associated with some cardiovascular risk factors and with the magnitude of insulin resistance. Conclusions. CSHT imposes a high cardiovascular risk, particularly in the female-tomale group. Quality of diet among the transsexual population is deficient. Exercise practice is scarce. New studies with larger simple sizes and for longer observation periods are needed to more accurately define the metabolic alterations that may follow CSHT, as well as its effect on mortality risk and quality of life of the transsexual population.