Endocrine Abstracts

Background and objectives: Identification of metabolic syndrome (MS) is important for the strategy to reduce the prevalence of NIDDM. The latest IDF consensus definition emphasizes waist circumference as the central criteria, while the earlier ATP III definition gives equal importance to different risk factors. In absence of local data on definition of central obesity, it might be inappropriate to use the IDF definition. Therefore, it is aimed to investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in healthy individuals living in Jeddah using the two definitions to determine the relative importance of the different risk factors. It is also aimed to investigate the importance of family medical history and life style habits.

Subjects and methods: Three hundred and fifty-seven healthy adults aged 18–50 years were recruited randomly from health centers in Jeddah, in a cross-sectional study design. Anthropometric and demographic information were taken. Insulin, glucose, and lipids profile were measured in fasting blood samples. Individuals were identified using the two definitions of metabolic syndrome, and their anthropometric, demographic and biochemical characteristics were compared statistically to the rest of the population.

Results: Two hundred and thirty-three subjects satisfied the selection criteria. Using the IDF definition, 45.9% had abdominal obesity, 45.5% had high glucose, 21.7% had high triglycerides, 30.0% had low HDL-cholesterol, 12.0% had high BP, and 39 subjects (18.9%) were diagnosed with MS. These were significantly older, with higher BMI and fasting insulin. Using the ATP III definition more subjects (16.7%) were diagnosed. High glucose appeared in 45.5% of the population, low HDL cholesterol in 30%, high triglycerides in 21.7%, abdominal obesity in 25.3%, and higher BP in 12.0%.

Conclusion: Due to absence of local cutoff points for waist circumference, subjects might escape diagnosis if the IDF definition is used. More studies are needed to reach more accurate definition of MS in Saudis.