Prevalence of metabolic syndrome using international diabetes federation, National Cholesterol Education Panel- Adult Treatment Panel III and Iranian criteria: results of Tabari cohort study

Background: Metabolic syndrome is defined by co-incidence of multiple metabolic disorders such as central obesity, high triglycerides, low HDL, hyperglycemia and high blood pressure, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome using Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP-III), International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Iranian criteria in large-scaled population based cohort study and to determine the concordance between these criteria.

Methods: In the present study all information collected in Tabari cohort study(TCS) were utilized. These information were collected using a structural questionnaire and taking blood samples from all the participants. Blood pressure and anthropometric indices were measured for all participants by trained practitioners. Categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. In addition, the quantitative variables were compared between the two the groups using independent t-test. Kappa coefficient was estimated to show the agreement between the results of the three criteria.

Results: The prevalences of Metabolic syndrome were 41.10%(CI 95%:40.10-42.02), 44.60%(CI 95%:43.61-45.54), and 30.80% (CI 95%:29.89-31.69) based on ATPIII, international IDF and IDF Iranian criteria respectively. The Kappa agreement coefficients between Iranian IDF with ATPIII definition and international IDF were estimated as 61.80% and 71.20% in the total population respectively.

Conclusion: Kappa coefficient showed that the Iranian IDF had a good agreement with International IDF and an intermediate agreement with the ATP-III. Considering more emphasis of international and Iranian IDF on waist circumference (WC), a better agreement between these two criteria is plausible. Regarding the high prevalence of abdominal obesity among Iranian population, applying these criteria to identify high risk persons might be helpful.