Optimal definitions for abdominal obesity and the metabolic syndrome in Andean Hispanics: the PREVENCION study.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to establish optimal definitions for abdominal obesity and metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Andean adults.


METHODS
Among 1,448 Andean adults, we assessed the relationship between waist circumference and subclinical vascular disease assessed by carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and manifest cardiovascular disease (M-CVD).


RESULTS
Optimal waist circumference cutoffs to classify individuals with abnormal cIMT or M-CVD were >97 and >87 cm in men and women, respectively. With these cutoffs, there was substantial disagreement between the original American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) and the recently updated MetS definition, particularly among men (kappa = 0.85). Subjects with MetS identified by the updated definition but not meeting the original AHA/NHLBI MetS criteria demonstrated significantly increased cIMT (P < 0.001) compared with subjects who did not meet the MetS criteria by either definition.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings support the use of ethnic-specific waist circumference cutoffs and the updated MetS definition in Andean adults.
Medina-Lezama
Josefina
J
Santa Maria Catholic University School of Medicine and the Santa Maria Research Institute, Arequipa, Peru.
Pastorius
Catherine A
CA
Zea-Diaz
Humberto
H
Bernabe-Ortiz
Antonio
A
Corrales-Medina
Fernando
F
Morey-Vargas
Oscar Leopoldo
OL
Chirinos
Diana Andrea
DA
Muñoz-Atahualpa
Edgar
E
Chirinos-Pacheco
Julio
J
Chirinos
Julio Alonso
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult