Screening for the metabolic syndrome using simple anthropometric measurements in south Asian and white Europeans: A population-based screening study. The Leicester Ethnic Atherosclerosis and Diabetes Risk (LEADER) Study

Khunti, Kamlesh; Taub, Nick; Tringham, Jennifer; Jarvis, Janet; Farooqi, Azhar; Skinner, T. Chas; Davies, Melanie J.

doi:10.1016/j.pcd.2010.01.002

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Volume 4, Issue 1 , Pages 25-32, April 2010

Screening for the metabolic syndrome using simple anthropometric measurements in south Asian and white Europeans: A population-based screening study. The Leicester Ethnic Atherosclerosis and Diabetes Risk (LEADER) Study

Kamlesh Khunti
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, 22-28 Princess Road West, Leicester LE1 6TP, UK
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 0116 2525445; fax: +44 0116 2525413.
Nick Taub
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, 22-28 Princess Road West, Leicester LE1 6TP, UK
Jennifer Tringham
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University Hospitals of Leicester, UK
Janet Jarvis
- Department of Diabetes, Diabetes Research Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK
Azhar Farooqi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, 22-28 Princess Road West, Leicester LE1 6TP, UK
T. Chas Skinner
- Department of Diabetes, Diabetes Research Unit, University Hospitals of Leicester, Leicester Royal Infirmary, Leicester, UK
Melanie J. Davies
- Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, University Hospitals of Leicester, UK

Received 2 March 2009; received in revised form 15 October 2009; accepted 8 January 2010. published online 04 February 2010.

Abstract

Aims

To estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in a general population sample of south Asians and white Europeans and compare predictors of metabolic syndrome, using ethnic specific definitions of obesity.

Methods

3099 participants (71.4% white European, 28.6% south Asian) aged 40–75 years were screened using a 75g oral glucose tolerance test. Metabolic syndrome was defined using National Cholesterol Education Programme and International Diabetes Federation definitions. We compared sensitivity, specificity and area under the curve of waist circumference, body mass index and waist–hip ratio.

Results

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome using the definitions above was 29.9% (29.2% south Asian, 30.2% white European), and 34.4% (34.2% south Asian, 34.5% white European), respectively. Using the National Cholesterol Education Programme definition, waist circumference was significantly more predictive of metabolic syndrome than body mass index or waist–hip ratio. The area under the curve for waist circumference was 0.75 (95% CI: 0.69–0.80) and 0.76 (0.72–0.81) for south Asian men and women; 0.83 (0.80–0.85) and 0.80 (0.77–0.82) for white European men and women.

Conclusions

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is high in both south Asian and white European populations. Waist circumference is a simple and effective measure for predicting metabolic syndrome in different populations.

Abbreviations: MS, metabolic syndrome, IDF, International Diabetes Federation, BMI, body mass index, CVD, cardiovascular disease, WC, waist circumference, IFG, impaired fasting glucose, IGT, impaired glucose tolerance, OGTT, oral glucose tolerance test, NCEP, National Cholesterol Education Programme, ROC, receiver operating characteristics, AUC, area under the curve, WHR, waist–hip ratio