[Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome and Consistency in Its Diagnosis in Type 2 Diabetic Patients in Spain]

Objective: To determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome, the degree of consistency among World Health Organization (WHO), The Third Report National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP-ATP III) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) diagnostic criteria and the relationship with cardiovascular risk in a Spanish population of patients with type 2 diabetes.

Material And Methods: This descriptive, epidemiologic, multicenter and cross-sectional study included 1259 patients with type 2 diabetes. The primary variable was diagnosis of metabolic syndrome according to WHO, NCEP-ATP III and IDF criteria.

Results: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 71.5% (WHO), 78.2% (NCEP-ATP III), and 89.5% (IDF). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was higher in sedentary diabetic patients (WHO=79.3%, NCEP-ATP III=86.2%, and IDF=93.9) than in those who exercised moderately (WHO=61.4%, NCEP-ATP III=73.2%, and IDF=85.5%, [p<0.001]). The percentage of patients with metabolic syndrome and moderate/high cardiovascular risk was 38.9% (WHO), 33.6% (NCEP-ATP III), and 30.1%, (IDF). Consistency among WHO, NCEP-ATP III and IDF criteria was low. Only comparison of WHO vs NCEP-ATP III criteria was acceptable (k=0.52 [0.46-0.58]).

Conclusions: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes in Spain is high, even when the low consistency among WHO, NCEP-ATP III and IDF criteria is considered. A standard definition of metabolic syndrome, according to routine clinical practice, is needed. Cardiovascular risk is greater when OMS and NCEP-ATP III criteria are used for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome compared with IDF criteria.