Harmonizing the metabolic syndrome: a joint interim statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; American Heart Association; World Heart Federation; International Atherosclerosis Society; and International Association for the Study of Obesity.

Description

In this joint scientific statement of the International Diabetes Federation Task Force on Epidemiology and Prevention (IDF); National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI); American Heart Association (AHA); World Heart Federation (WHF); International Atherosclerosis Society (IAS) and International Association for the Study of Obesity, an attempt to harmonize the definition of the metabolic syndrome definition is made. Various diagnostic criteria have been proposed by different organisations over the past decade but an important difference remained regarding the measure of central obesity by waist circumference (WC). Uniform cut-off values have been determined for all diagnostic criteria of the metabolic syndrome except for WC. The WHO has identified 2 levels of abdominal obesity in Europids; an increased risk at WC ≥94 cm in men and ≥80 cm in women but the risk is even greater at WC ≥102 cm in men and ≥88 cm in women. Further studies will be needed to explore the relation of WC thresholds to metabolic risk and consider ethnic differences. Thus, the statement recommends the use of WC as a useful screening tool using national or regional cut off values.