A comparison of the new international diabetes federation definition of metabolic syndrome to WHO and NCEP definitions in Chinese, European and South Asian origin adults.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the prevalence, agreement and phenotypic characteristics in three ethnic groups of the new International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition of metabolic syndrome (MS) to the World Health Organization (WHO) and national cholesterol education program (NCEP) definitions.


METHODS
Newcastle upon Tyne, England.


METHODS
Cross-sectional surveys.


METHODS
Chinese (171 men and 185 women), European (257 men and 301 women), and South Asian (264 men and 295 women) adults, ages 25 to 64 years.


METHODS
Anthropometric indices: blood pressure, fasting lipids, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance.


RESULTS
IDF-defined MS was highly prevalent in all groups, ranging from 12.3% (95% CIs 7.4-17.2) in Chinese men to 45.5% (39.5-51.5) in South Asian men. In women, of all ethnic groups, more than 80% of those with WHO- or NCEP-defined MS also had IDF-defined MS. In men, however, agreement was less good. For example, in each ethnic group, more than a third of those with WHO-defined MS did not have IDF-defined MS. Within each ethnic group, the biological characteristics of those with MS by any definition were largely the same. However, differences existed between ethnic groups. For example, in those with IDF-defined MS, both South Asian men and women had significantly (P < .05) higher insulin resistance and significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure than Europeans or Chinese.


CONCLUSIONS
Agreement between the IDF and other definitions is better in women than men. The phenotype is similar within each ethnic group whatever the definition, but differs between groups suggesting that risks associated with MS differ by ethnic group.
Unwin
Nigel
N
School of Clinical Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK. n.c.unwin@ncl.ac.uk
Bhopal
Raj
R
Hayes
Louise
L
White
Martin
M
Patel
Sheila
S
Ragoobirsingh
Dalip
D
Alberti
George
G
D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D001208:Asia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014944:World Health Organization