title: Prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to Adult Treatment Panel III and International Diabetes Federation criteria: a population-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to examine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome among adult Qatari population according to the revised criteria of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP III) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), assess which component contributed to the increased risk of the metabolic syndrome, and identify the characteristics of the subjects with metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was carried out in urban and semiurban primary health-care centers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The survey was conducted from January, 2007, to July, 2008, among Qatari nationals above 20 years of age. Of the 1496 subjects who were approached to participate in the study, 1204 (80.5%) gave their consent. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire followed by laboratory tests. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the NCEP ATP III as well as IDF criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome in studied subjects was 26.5% and 33.7% according to ATP III and IDF criteria (P < 0.001). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome by ATP III and IDF increased with age and body mass index (BMI), whereas it decreased with higher education and physical activity. Also, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was more common in women. Among the components of metabolic syndrome, central obesity was significantly higher in the studied subjects. The IDF definition of metabolic syndrome gave a higher prevalence in all age groups. The overall prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its components according to IDF criteria was higher in the studied subjects than the estimates given by the ATP III. Multivariate logistics regression analysis (ATP III and IDF) showed that age and BMI were significant contributors for metabolic syndrome. Both definitions strongly supported age and obesity as associated factors for metabolic syndrome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current study found a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Qataris. There was a steady increase in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome through the decades, independent of the definition. Age and BMI were important significant predictors for metabolic syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Statistics and Epidemiology, Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar. abener@hmc.org.qa
authors.forename: Abdulbari
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bener
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zirie
authors.forename: Manal
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Musallam
authors.forename: Yousef S
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Khader
authors.forename: Abdulla O A A
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Al-Hamaq