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The importance of diagnostic criteria in the association between the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in obese subjects

International Journal of Obesity volume 29, pages 668–674 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To investigate whether the association between the metabolic syndrome (MS) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) in obese adults is influenced by the criteria used to diagnose the MS.

DESIGN AND SUBJECTS:

Cross-sectional study in 389 obese adults (male/female: 26%/74%; body mass index (BMI): 30.1–63.2 kg/m2; age: 18–79 y).

MEASUREMENTS:

To diagnose the MS by the WHO or the ATPIII criteria, body mass index, waist circumference, fasting and 2-h oral Glucose tolerance test plasma glucose, fasting plasma triglycerides and HDL cholesterol, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, 24-h albumin excretion, and fasting insulin were measured. The association between the MS diagnosed with either definition and self-referred CVD was investigated.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of the MS by the WHO was higher than by the ATPIII criteria (WHO 69.1%, ATPIII 49.4%; P<0.001). The MS diagnosed by the WHO criteria was significantly associated with self-referred CVD (odds ratio (OR) 5.80, 95% CI 1.35–24.95, P<0.05), whereas the ATPIIII MS was not (OR 1.34, 95% CI 0.59–3.03). An elevated blood pressure (OR 5.04, 95% CI 1.41–18.01, P<0.05) and microalbuminuria (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.06–6.40, P<0.05) were independently associated with CVD. Consideration of the OGTT data as part of the ATPIII MS definition improved its associations with CVD (OR 4.39, 95% CI 1.29–14.94, P<0.05).

CONCLUSION:

The WHO criteria appear to identify a greater number of obese adults at risk for CVD. Nevertheless, the addition of an OGTT at least in nondiabetic patients with two ATPIII-defined metabolic risk factors may help to improve the association between the MS and CVD in obese adults.

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Acknowledgements

We are very grateful to Leonor Sanchez for technical assistance. This work was supported by a grant from the FIS of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Red de Grupos RTGO (G03/028), Madrid, Spain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Obesity unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari, Barcelona, Spain

    J Vidal, R Morínigo, V H Codoceo, S Pellitero & R Gomis

  2. Hormonal Unit, Hospital Clínic Universitari, Barcelona, Spain

    R Casamitjana

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Correspondence to J Vidal.

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Vidal, J., Morínigo, R., Codoceo, V. et al. The importance of diagnostic criteria in the association between the metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease in obese subjects. Int J Obes 29, 668–674 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.ijo.0802921

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