title: Waist circumference cut-off points for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in Iranian adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Central obesity, a prominent feature of metabolic syndrome (MetS), is commonly assessed by gender- and ethnicity-specific waist circumference (WC) cut-off values. Since 2006, the recommended WC cut-offs by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) for Europeans are used in Iran because of limited data availability. The purpose of this study was to determine optimal cut-off points for the diagnosis of MetS in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 2752 adults (1046 men) were studied. Subjects with two or more of the following risk factors from the IDF criteria were considered to have multiple risk factors: hyperglycemia (FBG>/=100mg/dL or diagnosed diabetes), high blood pressure (SBP>/=130mmHg, DBP>/=85mmHg, or using antihypertensive drugs), low HDL (<50mg/dL for females and <40mg/dL for males), and high TG (>150mg/dL).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The WC cut-off yielding maximum sensitivity plus specificity for predicting the presence of multiple risk factors was 91.5cm in men and 85.5cm in women. Sensitivity and specificity were 77% (86%) and 58% (50%) in men (women), respectively. MetS prevalence was estimated to be approximately 27% in Tehran.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WC cut-offs recommended by the IDF are not appropriate for use in Iran.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Research Center (EMRC), Vali-Asr Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Esteghamati
authors.forename: Haleh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ashraf
authors.forename: Armin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rashidi
authors.forename: Alipasha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Meysamie
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference