title: Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in the Yan-an region of northwest China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in a sample population from northwest China, and to determine the optimal cut-off point for waist circumference for diagnosing the metabolic syndrome in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 1290 residents of the Yan-an region of China completed a cross-sectional survey, physical examination and laboratory tests. The International Diabetes Federation (IDF), Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS), and the National Cholesterol Education Program Adults Treatment Panel-III (NCEP-ATPIII) criteria were used to assess the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and its relationship with age and gender.
  
  
  RESULTS
  According to the NCEP-ATPIII, CDS and IDF diagnostic criteria, the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was 15.8%, 20.4% and 26.4%, respectively. The optimal cut-off point for waist circumference was ≥ 86.5 cm for men and ≥ 80.5 cm for women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in the Yan-an region was significantly higher than that in other regions of China, and participants with the metabolic syndrome were much younger than those in other Chinese regions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Hospital, Medical College of Yan-an University, Yan-an, China.
authors.forename: S-L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: S-Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Y-L
authors.initials: YL
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: J-A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult