Maznichenko I. O., Volkova N. M., Zlobin O. O.

PATHOPHYSIOLOGICAL MECHANISMS OF METABOLIC DISORDERS UNDER CHRONIC DISTRESS AND THEIR IMPACT ON THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME

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Maznichenko I. O., Volkova N. M., Zlobin O. O.

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LITERATURE REVIEWS

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Scientific article

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Metabolic syndrome is characterized by persistent disturbances in glucose and lipid metabolism, abdominal obesity, arterial hypertension, and chronic low-grade inflammation. Chronic distress may exacerbate these abnormalities through dysregulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, sympathetic activation, sleep disturbances, unhealthy eating behaviors, and reduced physical activity. However, the functional consequences of this interaction remain insufficiently considered in clinical practice. The aim is to identify the pathophysiological mechanisms of metabolic disorders under conditions of chronic stress and their relationship to quality-of-life indicators in patients with metabolic syndrome. Contemporary scientific literature on the neuroendocrine, inflammatory, and metabolic mechanisms of distress, the components of metabolic syndrome, and health-related quality of life was compared and synthesized. Prolonged activation of stress systems was associated with insulin resistance, visceral obesity, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, and systemic inflammation. Physical functioning, vitality, work capacity, sleep quality, and psychological well-being were the most affected domains. The synthesized evidence indicates that reduced quality of life depends not only on the number of metabolic syndrome components but also on their duration, combination, persistence, and coexisting distress. A single cortisol measurement has limited diagnostic value, allostatic load assessment remains insufficiently standardized, and metabolic and psychological assessments are not adequately integrated in routine clinical practice. Clinical assessment should combine metabolic status, distress severity, sleep quality, behavioral factors, and health-related quality of life. Management should be individualized according to the predominant metabolic abnormalities and the patient’s functional limitations. Further studies should standardize integrated measures of chronic stress burden and clinically evaluate comprehensive interventions by simultaneously assessing metabolic outcomes and health-related quality of life.

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Publication of the article:

«Bulletin of problems biology and medicine», 2026 Issue 3, 182, 92-100 pages, index UDC 616.39-008.9:616.89-008.441.44:613.98

DOI:

10.29254/2077-4214-2026-3-182-92-100