Metabolic Syndrome among Apparently Healthy Nigerians with the Harmonized Criteria: Prevalence and Concordance with the (IDF) and Third Report of the (NCEP-ATP III) Criteria

Background: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome varies by the definition used and the population studied. In order to make comparison among various studies possible, a new criterion which harmonizes the previous definitions was proposed. This study aims to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome with the harmonized criteria, and its concordance with the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), and National Cholesterol Education Programme-Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP-ATP III) criteria. Methods: One hundred and two apparently healthy individuals who participated in health screening were evaluated for metabolic syndrome. The blood pressure and anthropometric parameters were measured according to standard protocol, and fasting plasma glucose and lipid profile were determined. Metabolic syndrome was defined using the Harmonized, IDF and ATP III criteria. The agreement among the three diagnostic criteria was determined with kappa statistics. Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 4.9%, 3.9% and 4.9% with harmonized, IDF, and NCEP-ATP criteria respectively. Compared to the males, the prevalence was greater in females: Males vs Females (harmonized, 2.2% vs 7.0%; IDF, 2.2% vs 5.3%; NCEP-ATP III, 2.2% vs 7.0%). The commonest risk factor in this population was low HDL occurring in 93.0% and 37.8% of females and males respectively, followed by central obesity (50.9% in females, 13.3% in males with harmonized and IDF criteria; 33.3% in females, 4.4% in males with NCEP-ATP criteria), hypertension (12.5% in females, 18.6% in males) and hyperglycaemia (4.2% in females, 0.0% in males) in that order. None of the participants had elevated Triglyceride. There was a substantial concordance between the harmonized and the IDF (k=0.884) as well as the harmonized and NCEP-ATP III (k=1.000) definitions. Conclusion: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was low in this population. There was a substantial agreement among the three diagnostic criteria.