title: Prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and determination of optimal cut-off values of waist circumference in university employees from Angola.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Estimates of the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Africans may be inconsistent due to lack of African-specific cut-off values of waist circumference (WC). This study determined the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome and defined optimal values of WC in Africans.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study collected demographic, anthropometric and clinical data of 615 Universitary employees, in Luanda, Angola. The metabolic syndrome was defined using the third report of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel (ATPIII) and the Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. Receiver operating characteristics curves were constructed to assess cut-off values of WC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The crude prevalence of the metabolic syndrome was higher with the JIS definition (27.8%, age-standardised 14.1%) than with the ATP III definition (17.6%, age-standardised 8.7%). Optimal cut-off values of WC were 87.5 and 80.5 cm in men and women, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a high prevalence of the metabolic syndrome among our African subjects. Our data suggest different WC cut-off values for Africans in relation to other populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola.
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Magalhães
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University Agostinho Neto, Luanda, Angola.
authors.forename: Daniel P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Capingana
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil.
authors.forename: José G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000810:Angola; D044383:Black People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014495:Universities; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology*; D055815:Young Adult