Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in urban and suburban Rivers State, Nigeria: International Diabetes Federation and Adult Treatment Panel III definitions.

BACKGROUND: It was not clear for a while, which of the definitions of metabolic syndrome best predicted those at risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes but recent studies have confirmed the predictive ability of various definitions of metabolic syndrome and have reported that the International Diabetes Federation definition, although more sensitive is associated with a higher false positive predictive rate.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, using the International Diabetes Federation and Adult Treatment Panel III definitions among adult Nigerians attending Family Medicine Clinics at two hospitals in Rivers State Nigeria.

METHODS: Adult subjects attending family medicine clinics at an urban and a sub-urban hospital in Rivers State, Nigeria were bled after an overnight fast, and venous blood obtained for lipid studies and fasting plasma glucose estimations. Measurements were made to determine height, weight, waist circumference and blood pressure. The data obtained was analysed using SPSS for Windows software version 12 and Epi info version 6.04D RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 19.81% (ATP III) and 23.19% (IDF) at one centre and 34.17% (ATP III) and 35.42% (IDF) at the other centre.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome by the two definitions was significantly higher at the second centre. The difference in the prevalence rates by the two definitions was also much smaller in the second centre perhaps because the second centre had more women and the mean age of the subjects was significantly higher.