Comparison Of ATP III Criteria And The Metabolic Severity Score In Identification Of Metabolic Syndrome In Mexican Americans

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) reflects a combination of physiological and metabolic abnormalities which increases an individual’s risk for developing cardiovascular disease (CVD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Components of MetS include abdominal obesity, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting glucose levels. The Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria for MetS is met when an individual displays three of the five components greater than established values. PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of MetS as defined by ATP III criteria in a subset of Mexican Americans selected from the 2015-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) and compare it to an alternative method of assessing metabolic disease risk, the MetS severity score. METHODS: Mexican American data (285 males, 350 females) were downloaded from the 2015-2018 NHANES database. Variables contributing to MetS were analyzed using MANOVA. The relationship of ATP III MetS to MetS severity score was analyzed using logistic regression. RESULTS: Body mass index did not differ between sexes (p = 0.339); however, waist circumference and % body fat significantly differed between the sexes (p = 0.04, p < 0.001, respectively). Fasting glucose (p = 0.012), triglycerides (p < 0.001), and high-density lipoprotein (p < 0.001) also differed between sexes as did diastolic blood pressure (p < 0.001). The frequency of MetS (ATP III) between sexes was similar (~27% women, ~22% men). In total, ~78% percent of males and ~ 73% of females had some degree of risk according to the MetS severity score who did not meet ATP III criteria. CONCLUSION: In this data set of Mexican Americans, 225 men and 255 women who would not have been made aware of their elevated risk for developing CVD and T2DM under ATP III criteria, they would be identified as having risk factors and the severity would be based on quartiles using the MetS severity score. This may result in earlier intervention for lifestyle, diet, and medication interventions for at risk individuals.