Association of Khat chewing and shisha smoking with metabolic syndrome and diabetes factors among Yemeni women

Khat chewing and shisha smoking have spread among women in Yemeni society; thereby, these modifiable lifestyles may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association of Khat chewing and combined shisha smoking and Khat chewing with metabolic syndrome factors among Yemeni females. An analytical cross-sectional study was conducted. One hundred and eighty Yemeni females signed the consent form and donated blood; 60 of them were non-smoking non-Khat chewers (control group), 60 were non-smoking Khat chewers, and 60 were shisha-smoking Khat chewers. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) showed that Khat chewing was associated with higher triglycerides (TG) (p = 0.001) and waist circumference (p = 0.001) in non-smoking Khat chewers compared with non-smoking non-Khat chewer women. In addition, ANCOVA showed that TG is an important covariate associated with insulin resistance among khat-chewing women. In conclusion, Khat chewing is associated with a higher risk of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Yemeni females.