Diagnostic values of different definitions of metabolic syndrome to detect poor health status in Iranian adults without diabetes

Abstract

This study aimed to compare the diagnostic impact of four definitions of the metabolic syndrome for detection of poor health status in adults without diabetes living in Tehran. A representative sample of 950 individuals (64% women), aged ≥20years, participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study in 2005-2007, were recruited for the study. Health status was assessed using the Iranian version of the 36-item Short Form Health Survey. We assessed the detectability of poor health status by definitions of the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment PanelIII, the International Diabetes Federation, the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and the Blood Institute and the Joint Interim Statement. Compared with other definitions, the Joint Interim Statement identified more participants (46.9%) having the metabolic syndrome. Using the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III, the International Diabetes Federation and the Joint Interim Statement, the metabolic syndrome was significantly related to poor physical health status, even after adjustment for confounding variables, in women, but not in men. None of the four definitions of the metabolic syndrome was related to the mental health status in either gender. The receiver operating characteristic curves showed no significant difference in the discriminative power of the metabolic syndrome definitions in detecting poor health status in either gender. However, women showed a higher area under the curve for all definitions, in comparison with men. There was no difference in the four different definitions of the metabolic syndrome in detecting poor health status among Iranian adults.