OBJECTIVES—We aimed to evaluate eight candidate definitions of the metabolic syndrome (MS) against the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATPIII) definition as the reference for optimally defining MS in adult Asian Indians.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—We used clinical and biochemical data from our previous cross-sectional epidemiological studies. Candidate definitions of MS were proposed by modifying the NCEP ATPIII definition. These modifications included the following: waist circumference cutoffs as >90 cm in men and >80 cm in women, BMI cutoff as >23 kg/m2, and a measure of truncal subcutaneous fat (subscapular skinfold thickness [SST] >18 mm).

RESULTS—The highest prevalence (29.9%) of MS was observed by the inclusion of modified cutoffs of waist circumference and BMI and SST in place of the existing cutoffs of waist circumference in the NCEP ATPIII criteria. Further, this modified definition showed the maximum absolute gain in the percentage of prevalence of MS over the NCEP ATPIII definition, and it was the best predictor for MS in subjects with impaired fasting glucose, type 2 diabetes, and different age-groups. The lowest percentage of prevalence of MS was observed with the definition that excluded biochemical variables and blood pressure.

CONCLUSIONS—The criteria for defining MS in adult Asian Indians need revision. Inclusion of modified cutoffs of waist circumference and BMI and measures of truncal subcutaneous fat in the NCEP ATPIII definition requires further validation.

Resistance to insulin-mediated glucose uptake is important for the development of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and subsequently type 2 diabetes. Clustering of clinical and metabolic risk factors, known as “metabolic syndrome,” is defined by criteria laid down by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATPIII) (1). High predisposition to the development of type 2 diabetes in certain ethnic groups, such as Asian Indians, necessitates early identification of MS for the purpose of prevention (2).

Doubts have been expressed as to whether the NCEP ATPIII definition is appropriate for identifying MS in Asians. Anthropometric parameters of Asians are different than those for white Caucasians and blacks. For example, Asian Indians have smaller body size, excess body fat, and truncal and abdominal adiposity but lower average waist circumference than white Caucasians (2). The cutoffs of waist circumference to define abdominal obesity by the NCEP ATPIII definition underestimate abdominal obesity in adult Asians (3).

Further, application of NCEP ATPIII criteria requires the analysis of fasting blood samples for blood glucose, serum triglycerides, and HDL cholesterol levels. The results of these metabolic variables are usually not available on the first clinic visit; and more importantly, the cost of these tests may be prohibitive for economically challenged individuals. Innovative definitions of MS comprised of easy-to-measure relevant anthropometric measures thus need to be evaluated in individuals residing in developing countries.

In the present study, we devised eight candidate definitions of MS by including modified waist circumference and modified BMI cutoffs and subscapular skinfold thickness (SST) as additional defining anthropometric parameters in various combinations with the other defining parameters given by the NCEP ATPIII. In the first candidate definition (MS-1), modified waist circumference cutoffs (>90 cm in men and >80 cm in women) were used instead of the waist circumference cutoffs (>102 cm in men and >88 cm in women) proposed by the existing NCEP ATPIII definition. This candidate definition (MS-1) has also been used for defining prevalence of MS by other investigators in Asian Indians (3,4). BMI has been a defining parameter in the definition of MS given by the World Health Organization in 1999 (5). Based on reports of excess morbidity risk of Asians at lower BMI values, as compared with other ethnic groups, the cutoff for diagnosis of overweight has been proposed as 23 kg/m2 (6), which was recently endorsed by the World Health Organization Expert Consultation as a “public health action point” for Asians (7).

Truncal subcutaneous fat, as measured by SST, was also included as a defining anthropometric parameter of MS. The rationale of inclusion of SST in candidate definitions of MS was based on the experience of several investigators, including our group (8–11), that truncal subcutaneous fat is an important determinant of insulin sensitivity in some ethnic groups, particularly in South Asians. Specifically, we recently reported that the influence of excess truncal subcutaneous fat on insulin sensitivity might be similar to that of abdominal obesity (11).

We therefore hypothesized that the NCEP ATPIII definition does not appropriately define MS in adult Asian Indians. In the current investigation, we have evaluated eight candidate definitions of MS with the NCEP ATPIII definition as a reference. By comparing the prevalence of MS as per these candidate definitions, we aimed to propose a definition based on the criteria and/or a group of anthropometric and biochemical parameters that would optimally define MS in adult Asian Indians.

We included the subjects from our previous epidemiological studies as the purposive sample for the current study because we had previously demonstrated an inordinately high prevalence of clustering of cardiovascular risk factors in the same population sample (12–14). The epidemiological methods have been described previously (13). The survey methodology and instruments of measurement were similar in both surveys. For the current investigation, only relevant clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical data were used.

Anthropometric measurements

Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences, and skinfold thickness measurements at four sites, i.e., the biceps, triceps, subscapular, and suprailiac, were measured as previously described (15).

Biochemical samples and analysis

Blood glucose and lipids (total cholesterol, triglycerides, very-low-density lipoprotein [VLDL] cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol) were estimated as previously described (13). The value of LDL cholesterol was calculated using Friedewald’s equation (16).

Statistical analysis

The percentage of prevalence and 95% CI of MS by various candidate definitions was computed using STATA 8.0 statistical software. For determining the cutoff of subscapular subcutaneous skinfold thickness, which would have significant effect on insulin sensitivity, we carried out a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis. The cutoff value of subcutaneous SST that showed optimal sensitivity and specificity in the ROC curve for the prediction of type 2 diabetes in the total sample of subjects was >18 mm for both sexes. We used modified cutoffs of waist circumference and BMI, as proposed for Asians (6,7).

Definitions of MS are presented in Table 1. MS is considered to be present if three or more of the defining variables are detected by any of the definitions.

Of a total of 640 subjects, complete clinical and biochemical data were available for 557 and 575 subjects, respectively. The mean age was 38.9 ± 14.8 years. The average values and prevalence of measures of obesity and surrogate markers of insulin resistance are shown in Table 2. Central obesity, as defined by the NCEP ATPIII waist circumference cutoffs (1), was present in 3.4% (95% CI 1.1–7.7) and 9% (6.4–12.2) of men and women, respectively. By lowering the waist circumference cutoffs to >90 cm and >80 cm, the prevalence of central obesity in men and women increased to 10.1% (5.7–16.1) and 25.9% (21.7–30.0), respectively. All of the measures of obesity were more prevalent in women than men (Table 2).

Table 3 shows the comparison of candidate definitions of MS with the NCEP ATPIII definition (MS-ATP). The overall prevalence of MS by the MS-ATP definition, which was taken as the reference, was 9.2% (95% CI 6.8–12.1). The maximum percentage of prevalence was 29.9% (26.9–34.1), and the maximum absolute percentage of gain (20.7%) over the MS-ATP definition of MS was observed by the application of the candidate definition MS-4 in the total population (see Table 1 for description of definitions). Table 4 depicts comparison of overall and sex-specific prevalence of MS, as defined by MS-ATP and the candidate definitions, in the total study sample, in subjects with impaired fasting glucose, and in patients with type 2 diabetes. The percentage of prevalence of MS by the MS-ATP definition was 35.3% (19.7–53.5) and 43.5% (23.2–65.5) in subjects with impaired fasting glucose and those with type 2 diabetes, respectively. The candidate definition MS-4 was the best predictor of MS in subjects with impaired fasting glucose and in patients with type 2 diabetes (Table 4). Further, on stratification by age-groups, the MS-4 definition was found to be the best predictor of MS in the total study population and in subgroups (Table 5).

Our data show that the candidate definition MS-4, which included modified cutoffs of waist circumference and BMI and SST (as a measure of truncal subcutaneous fat) in addition to the criteria given by the MS-ATP definition, demonstrated the maximum percentage of prevalence and gain in prevalence (Table 3) of MS over the MS-ATP definition. Interestingly, the MS-8 definition, which includes only anthropometric criteria (modified waist circumference, SST, and BMI) showed poor predictability for MS against the MS-ATP definition, indicating that biochemical criteria and blood pressure are important for defining MS in Asian Indians.

Our investigation was a preliminary study to investigate and explore candidate definitions of MS in adult Asian Indians who, along with the other Asian ethnic groups, have different anthropometric characteristics in comparison with white Caucasians and blacks. Metabolic abnormalities contributing to cardiovascular risk factors are detectable at a lower waist circumference in Asians in comparison with Caucasians, suggesting that NCEP ATPIII criteria might underestimate the prevalence of MS in Asians. Tan et al. (3) tested the adequacy of the NCEP ATPIII definition to predict MS in Asians, including Asian Indians residing in Singapore, using modified cutoffs for waist circumference (same as in definition MS-1 of the present study). With use of the revised definition, they demonstrated that the crude prevalence of MS in Asian Indians increased from 20.4 to 28.8% and that in men and women it increased from 21.7 to 32.4% and 19.3 to 25.8%, respectively (3). In contrast, in the current investigation, using definition MS-1, only a slight increase in the prevalence rates of MS in women and none in men was observed. This difference may be due to different body composition characteristics of migrant Asian Indians in comparison with Asian Indians residing in India (2). Despite these differences, the higher prevalence of MS and the greater increase in the percentage of prevalence in women with the use of candidate definitions are interesting observations. Higher prevalence of MS in women as compared with men is also in line with observations in the urban South Indian population (4) and our previous studies (11–13). Use of the modified NCEP ATPIII definition, which is similar to the MS-1 candidate definition, in urban Asian Indians residing in South India showed the prevalence of MS as 41%; however, these data were not compared with the NCEP ATPIII definition (4).

Importance of truncal subcutaneous fat as a contributory factor for the development of insulin resistance has been emphasized by several investigators. Haffner et al. (8) stressed that the ratio of subscapular to tricep skinfold and abdominal obesity may be independently associated with type 2 diabetes and surrogate markers of insulin resistance in Hispanic populations. Further, truncal skinfold thickness independently predicts cardiovascular risk (17) and type 2 diabetes in adults (18). Adult South Asians and postpubertal children have thicker truncal skinfolds than similar populations of white Caucasians (9–11). Moreover, at similar values of BMI, greater truncal skinfold thickness in adult migrant Asian Indians has been shown to be associated with a higher degree of hyperinsulinemia than white Caucasians (10). In a recent study, we have shown that increasing tertiles of truncal skinfold thickness were associated with higher fasting insulin concentrations than those recorded at any tertile of peripheral skinfold thickness, total body fat, and waist circumference (11). Thicker truncal subcutaneous fat patterning in Asian Indians with higher serum insulin levels in comparison with white Caucasians is evident at birth (19). Thus, it appears that excess truncal subcutaneous adipose tissue is an important determinant of insulin resistance in Asian Indians. These data justify inclusion of measures of truncal subcutaneous adiposity for devising candidate definitions of MS for South Asians.

The present study could have been improved by comparing the candidate definitions against insulin resistance, as measured ideally by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp technique and cardiovascular end points. The modified waist circumference cutoffs need to be confirmed by gathering more representative data from Asian ethnic groups. The cutoffs of SST should be validated by other investigators. Further, we did not test the hypothesis that insulin resistance in Asian Indians may occur de novo and independent of obesity. Finally, the definition of MS by the World Health Organization was not tested, since it is not always possible to estimate fasting serum insulin levels and microalbuminuria in a resource-constrained population.

Based on the observations of the present study, and those from other investigators, we suggest that, similar to diagnostic criteria of obesity, criteria for the diagnosis of MS need to be revised in Asian Indians and other Asian ethnic groups. Inclusion of modified waist circumference and BMI cutoffs and SST may be considered as defining variables of MS in the future studies on Asian Indians and other Asian ethnic groups.

Table 1—

NCEP ATPIII and candidate definitions of MS

MS definitionParameters included in NCEP ATPIII
Proposed additional anthropometric parameters
Blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose*Waist circumference (cm)BMI >23 kg/m2SST >18 mm
NCEP ATPIII (MS-ATP) √ Men >102, women >88 NI NI 
Candidate definitions     
    MS-1† √ Men >90, women >80 NI NI 
    MS-2 √ Men >90, women >80 √ NI 
    MS-3 √ Men >90, women >80 NI √ 
    MS- 4 √ Men >90, women >80 √ √ 
    MS-5 √ NI √ NI 
    MS- 6 √ NI NI √ 
    MS- 7 √ NI √ √ 
    MS- 8 NI Men >90, women >80 √ √ 
MS definitionParameters included in NCEP ATPIII
Proposed additional anthropometric parameters
Blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose*Waist circumference (cm)BMI >23 kg/m2SST >18 mm
NCEP ATPIII (MS-ATP) √ Men >102, women >88 NI NI 
Candidate definitions     
    MS-1† √ Men >90, women >80 NI NI 
    MS-2 √ Men >90, women >80 √ NI 
    MS-3 √ Men >90, women >80 NI √ 
    MS- 4 √ Men >90, women >80 √ √ 
    MS-5 √ NI √ NI 
    MS- 6 √ NI NI √ 
    MS- 7 √ NI √ √ 
    MS- 8 NI Men >90, women >80 √ √ 
*

Cutoffs according to the NCEP ATPIII (MS-ATP) definition (blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg; triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl; HDL cholesterol <40 mg/dl and <50 mg/dl in men and women, respectively; and fasting blood glucose ≥110 mg/dl).

†

Definition similar to MS-1 has been used by other investigators to define MS in Asian Indians. √, Parameter included in definition; NI, parameter not included in the definition. MS-ATP definition and candidate definitions: presence of three or more parameters needed for defining MS.

View Large
Table 2—

Measures of obesity and prevalence of surrogate markers of MS

VariablesnMennWomen
Average measures of obesity     
    Waist circumference (cm) 149 74.2 ± 11.6 409 72.2 ± 4.5 
    SST (mm)* 168 15.6 ± 8.7 462 16.8 ± 9.5 
    Suprailiac skinfold thickness (mm)* 168 17.6 ± 10.6 461 19.3 ± 10.6 
    Biceps skinfold thickness (mm)† 168 7.5 ± 5.2 463 8.0 ± 5.3 
    Triceps skinfold thickness (mm)† 168 13.0 ± 6.9 463 14.2 ± 8.2 
    BMI (kg/m2) 168 19.9 ± 4.1 466 20.5 ± 4.6 
Prevalence of measures of obesity     
    Waist circumference (men >102 cm, women >88 cm) 149 3.4 (1.1–7.7) 410 9.0 (6.4–12.2) 
    Modified waist circumference (men >90 cm, women >80 cm) 149 10.1 (5.7–16.1) 410 25.9 (21.7–30.0) 
    BMI (>23 kg/m2) 168 22.6 (16.5–29.7) 466 23.8 (20.0–28.0) 
    SST (>18 mm) 168 32.7 (25.7–40.4) 463 36.3 (25.7–40.7) 
Surrogate markers of insulin resistance     
    Impaired fasting blood glucose (≥110 mg/dl <126 mg/dl) 170 13 (7.7) 465 30 (6.5) 
    Diabetes (fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dl) 170 6 (3.5) 464 24 (5.2) 
    Hypertension (blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg) 168 19 (11.3) 466 75 (16.1) 
    Hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl) 167 43 (25.8) 435 111 (25.5) 
    Low levels of HDL cholesterol (men <40 mg/dl, women <50 mg/dl) 161 64 (39.8) 425 382 (89.9) 
VariablesnMennWomen
Average measures of obesity     
    Waist circumference (cm) 149 74.2 ± 11.6 409 72.2 ± 4.5 
    SST (mm)* 168 15.6 ± 8.7 462 16.8 ± 9.5 
    Suprailiac skinfold thickness (mm)* 168 17.6 ± 10.6 461 19.3 ± 10.6 
    Biceps skinfold thickness (mm)† 168 7.5 ± 5.2 463 8.0 ± 5.3 
    Triceps skinfold thickness (mm)† 168 13.0 ± 6.9 463 14.2 ± 8.2 
    BMI (kg/m2) 168 19.9 ± 4.1 466 20.5 ± 4.6 
Prevalence of measures of obesity     
    Waist circumference (men >102 cm, women >88 cm) 149 3.4 (1.1–7.7) 410 9.0 (6.4–12.2) 
    Modified waist circumference (men >90 cm, women >80 cm) 149 10.1 (5.7–16.1) 410 25.9 (21.7–30.0) 
    BMI (>23 kg/m2) 168 22.6 (16.5–29.7) 466 23.8 (20.0–28.0) 
    SST (>18 mm) 168 32.7 (25.7–40.4) 463 36.3 (25.7–40.7) 
Surrogate markers of insulin resistance     
    Impaired fasting blood glucose (≥110 mg/dl <126 mg/dl) 170 13 (7.7) 465 30 (6.5) 
    Diabetes (fasting blood glucose ≥126 mg/dl) 170 6 (3.5) 464 24 (5.2) 
    Hypertension (blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg) 168 19 (11.3) 466 75 (16.1) 
    Hypertriglyceridemia (triglycerides ≥150 mg/dl) 167 43 (25.8) 435 111 (25.5) 
    Low levels of HDL cholesterol (men <40 mg/dl, women <50 mg/dl) 161 64 (39.8) 425 382 (89.9) 

Data are means ± SD, % (95% CI), and n (%).

*

Central skinfold thickness;

†

peripheral skinfold thickness.

View Large
Table 3—

Comparison of candidate definitions of MS with the NCEP ATPIII definition (MS-ATP) as reference

MS definitionsPrevalenceAbsolute gain
True positiveTrue negativePercentage agreement
%*Attributed to†
MS-ATP (a + b) 9.2 — — — — — 
Candidate definitions       
    MS-1 (a + b)‡ 10.6 1.4 MWC instead of WC 100.0 98.5 98.6 
    MS-2 (a + b‡ + c) 18.6 9.4 MWC and BMI instead of WC 100.0 89.8 90.7 
    MS-3 (a + b‡ + d) 21.6 12.4 MWC and SST instead of WC 100.0 86.4 87.7 
    MS- 4 (a + b‡ + c + d) 29.9 20.7 MWC, SST, and BMI instead of WC 100.0 77.4 78.5 
    MS- 5 (a + c) 11.0 1.8 BMI instead of WC 95.6 96.7 96.6 
    MS-6 (a + d) 16.6 7.4 SST instead of WC 89.1 90.2 90.1 
    MS-7 (a + c + d) 23.1 13.9 SST and BMI instead of WC 100.0 84.3 85.8 
    MS- 8 (c + d + b‡) 5.7 −3.8 SST, MWC, and BMI instead of blood pressure, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose cutoffs according to MS-ATP definition and WC 15.2 97.9 90.2 
MS definitionsPrevalenceAbsolute gain
True positiveTrue negativePercentage agreement
%*Attributed to†
MS-ATP (a + b) 9.2 — — — — — 
Candidate definitions       
    MS-1 (a + b)‡ 10.6 1.4 MWC instead of WC 100.0 98.5 98.6 
    MS-2 (a + b‡ + c) 18.6 9.4 MWC and BMI instead of WC 100.0 89.8 90.7 
    MS-3 (a + b‡ + d) 21.6 12.4 MWC and SST instead of WC 100.0 86.4 87.7 
    MS- 4 (a + b‡ + c + d) 29.9 20.7 MWC, SST, and BMI instead of WC 100.0 77.4 78.5 
    MS- 5 (a + c) 11.0 1.8 BMI instead of WC 95.6 96.7 96.6 
    MS-6 (a + d) 16.6 7.4 SST instead of WC 89.1 90.2 90.1 
    MS-7 (a + c + d) 23.1 13.9 SST and BMI instead of WC 100.0 84.3 85.8 
    MS- 8 (c + d + b‡) 5.7 −3.8 SST, MWC, and BMI instead of blood pressure, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose cutoffs according to MS-ATP definition and WC 15.2 97.9 90.2 
*

Absolute gain in % prevalence of the metabolic syndrome = % prevalence by candidate definition − % prevalence by MS-ATP.

†

Modification of the MS-ATP definition. a: Blood pressure, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose cutoffs according to the MS-ATP definition. b: Waist circumference (WC) cutoffs according to the MS-ATP definition. b

‡

: Modified waist circumference (MWC) cutoffs (men >90 cm and women >80 cm). c: BMI >23 kg/m2. d: SST >18 mm.

View Large
Table 4—

Percentage prevalence (95% CI) of MS by the NCEP ATPIII (MS-ATP) and candidate definitions (MS-1 though MS-11)

MS definitionTotal population
Subjects with impaired fasting glucose (FBG ≥110 mg/dl and <126 mg/dl)
Subjects with diabetes (FBG ≥126 mg/dl)
OverallMenWomenOverallMenWomenOverallMenWomen
MS-ATP 9.2 (6.8–12.1) 11.0 (6.3–17.4) 8.5 (5.9–11.9) 35.3 (19.7–53.5) 60.0 (26.2–87.8) 25.0 (9.8–46.7) 43.5 (23.2–65.5) 66.7 (9.4–99.2) 40.0 (19.1–63.9) 
Candidate definitions          
    MS-1 10.6 (8.0–13.6) 11.0 (6.3–17.4) 10.5 (7.5–14.1) 38.2 (22.2–56.4) 60.0 (26.2–87.8) 29.2 (12.6–51.1) 47.8 (26.8–69.4) 66.7 (9.4–99.2) 45.0 (23.1–68.5) 
    MS-2 18.6 (15.2–22.2) 15.6 (9.9–22.8) 19.7 (15.7–24.1) 47.1 (29.8–64.8) 60.0 (26.2–87.8) 41.7 (22.1–63.3) 56.5 (34.5–76.8) 66.7 (9.4–99.2) 55.0 (31.5–76.9) 
    MS-3 21.6 (18.0–25.5) 20.6 (14.1–28.4) 21.9 (17.8–26.6) 46.9 (29.1–65.3) 66.7 (30.0–92.5) 39.1 (19.7–61.5) 69.6 (47.1–86.8) 66.7 (9.4–99.2) 70.0 (45.7–88.1) 
    MS-4 29.9 (25.9–34.1) 26.8 (19.6–35.2) 31.0 (26.2–36.1) 53.1 (36.0–72.7) 66.7 (29.9–92.5) 47.8 (28.6–69.4) 78.3 (56.3–92.5) 66.7 (9.4–99.2) 80.0 (56.3–94.3) 
    MS-5 11.0 (8.6–13.8) 11.5 (7.0–14.2) 10.8 (8.0–14.1) 40.0 (24.8–56.7) 46.2 (19.2–74.9) 37.0 (19.4–74.9) 50.0 (30.0–70.1) 80.0 (28.4–99.5) 42.9 (21.8–66.0) 
    MS-6 16.6 (13.6–20.0) 19.8 (13.8–26.8) 15.4 (12.0–19.3) 44.7 (28.6–61.7) 58.3 (27.7–84.8) 38.5 (20.2–59.4) 69.2 (48.2–85.7) 80.0 (28.4–99.5) 66.7 (43.0–85.4) 
    MS-7 23.1 (15.1–32.9) 25.2 (16.9–35.2) 22.3 (14.2–31.8) 47.4 (31.0–64.2) 58.3 (27.7–84.8) 42.3 (23.4–63.1) 76.0 (65.9–84.0) 80.0 (28.4–99.5) 75.0 (64.8–83.0) 
    MS-8 5.7 (1.7–11.9) 2.1 (0.3–7.4) 6.9 (3.0–14.6) 5.7 (0.7–19.2) 0.0 7.7 (0.9–25.1) 7.7 (3.0–14.6) 0.0 9.1 (4.4–17.2) 
MS definitionTotal population
Subjects with impaired fasting glucose (FBG ≥110 mg/dl and <126 mg/dl)
Subjects with diabetes (FBG ≥126 mg/dl)
OverallMenWomenOverallMenWomenOverallMenWomen
MS-ATP 9.2 (6.8–12.1) 11.0 (6.3–17.4) 8.5 (5.9–11.9) 35.3 (19.7–53.5) 60.0 (26.2–87.8) 25.0 (9.8–46.7) 43.5 (23.2–65.5) 66.7 (9.4–99.2) 40.0 (19.1–63.9) 
Candidate definitions          
    MS-1 10.6 (8.0–13.6) 11.0 (6.3–17.4) 10.5 (7.5–14.1) 38.2 (22.2–56.4) 60.0 (26.2–87.8) 29.2 (12.6–51.1) 47.8 (26.8–69.4) 66.7 (9.4–99.2) 45.0 (23.1–68.5) 
    MS-2 18.6 (15.2–22.2) 15.6 (9.9–22.8) 19.7 (15.7–24.1) 47.1 (29.8–64.8) 60.0 (26.2–87.8) 41.7 (22.1–63.3) 56.5 (34.5–76.8) 66.7 (9.4–99.2) 55.0 (31.5–76.9) 
    MS-3 21.6 (18.0–25.5) 20.6 (14.1–28.4) 21.9 (17.8–26.6) 46.9 (29.1–65.3) 66.7 (30.0–92.5) 39.1 (19.7–61.5) 69.6 (47.1–86.8) 66.7 (9.4–99.2) 70.0 (45.7–88.1) 
    MS-4 29.9 (25.9–34.1) 26.8 (19.6–35.2) 31.0 (26.2–36.1) 53.1 (36.0–72.7) 66.7 (29.9–92.5) 47.8 (28.6–69.4) 78.3 (56.3–92.5) 66.7 (9.4–99.2) 80.0 (56.3–94.3) 
    MS-5 11.0 (8.6–13.8) 11.5 (7.0–14.2) 10.8 (8.0–14.1) 40.0 (24.8–56.7) 46.2 (19.2–74.9) 37.0 (19.4–74.9) 50.0 (30.0–70.1) 80.0 (28.4–99.5) 42.9 (21.8–66.0) 
    MS-6 16.6 (13.6–20.0) 19.8 (13.8–26.8) 15.4 (12.0–19.3) 44.7 (28.6–61.7) 58.3 (27.7–84.8) 38.5 (20.2–59.4) 69.2 (48.2–85.7) 80.0 (28.4–99.5) 66.7 (43.0–85.4) 
    MS-7 23.1 (15.1–32.9) 25.2 (16.9–35.2) 22.3 (14.2–31.8) 47.4 (31.0–64.2) 58.3 (27.7–84.8) 42.3 (23.4–63.1) 76.0 (65.9–84.0) 80.0 (28.4–99.5) 75.0 (64.8–83.0) 
    MS-8 5.7 (1.7–11.9) 2.1 (0.3–7.4) 6.9 (3.0–14.6) 5.7 (0.7–19.2) 0.0 7.7 (0.9–25.1) 7.7 (3.0–14.6) 0.0 9.1 (4.4–17.2) 

See text for description of MS-ATP and candidate definitions MS-1 through MS- 8. FBG, fasting blood glucose.

View Large
Table 5—

Percentage of prevalence (95% CI) of MS stratified according to age-groups

MS definitionsAge-groups (years)
18–2930–3940–4950–59≥60
NCEP ATPIII (MS-ATP) 5.9 (2.6–11.3) 5.9 (2.5–11.3) 13.9 (7.8–22.2) 12.3 (5.5–22.8) 12.7 (5.6–23.5) 
Modified MS-ATP* 2.1 4.5 10.7 22.1 25.0 
Candidate definitions      
    MS-1 5.9 (2.6–11.3) 7.4 (3.6–13.2) 15.8 (9.3–24.4) 15.4 (7.6–26.5) 14.3 (6.7–25.4) 
    MS-4 22.7 (15.1–32.9) 26.5 (17.8–36.4) 38.0 (28.1–47.4) 36.9 (27.1–47.4) 31.75 (22.4–41.9) 
MS definitionsAge-groups (years)
18–2930–3940–4950–59≥60
NCEP ATPIII (MS-ATP) 5.9 (2.6–11.3) 5.9 (2.5–11.3) 13.9 (7.8–22.2) 12.3 (5.5–22.8) 12.7 (5.6–23.5) 
Modified MS-ATP* 2.1 4.5 10.7 22.1 25.0 
Candidate definitions      
    MS-1 5.9 (2.6–11.3) 7.4 (3.6–13.2) 15.8 (9.3–24.4) 15.4 (7.6–26.5) 14.3 (6.7–25.4) 
    MS-4 22.7 (15.1–32.9) 26.5 (17.8–36.4) 38.0 (28.1–47.4) 36.9 (27.1–47.4) 31.75 (22.4–41.9) 
*

Data from Tan et al. (3), who studied Asian Indians residing in Singapore using modified waist circumference cutoffs: men >90 cm and women >80 cm instead of the currently accepted cutoffs in the MS-ATP definition. This definition is the same as candidate definition MS-1 used in the current study.

View Large
1
Executive Summary of the Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III).
JAMA
 
285
:
2486
–2497,
2001
2
Misra A, Vikram NK: Insulin resistance syndrome (metabolic syndrome) and obesity in Asian Indians: evidence and implications.
Nutrition
 
20
:
482
–491,
2004
3
Tan CE, Ma S, Wai D, Chew SK, Tai ES: Can we apply the national cholesterol education program adult treatment panel definition of the metabolic syndrome to Asians?
Diabetes Care
 
27
:
1182
–1186,
2004
4
Ramachandran A, Snehalatha C, Satyavani K, Sivasankari S, Vijay V: Metabolic syndrome in urban Asian Indian adults: a population study using modified ATP III criteria.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract
 
60
:
199
–204,
2003
5
World Health Organization:
Definition, Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus and its Complications. Part 1. Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes Mellitus: Report of a WHO Consultation
Geneva, World Health Org., Department of Noncommunicable Disease Surveillance,
1999
(WHO/NCD/NCS/99.2)
6
World Health Organization:
The Asia-Pacific Perspective. Redefining Obesity and its Treatment. International Diabetes Institute
[article online],
2000
. Health Communications Australia Pty Ltd. Available at http://www.obesityasiapacific.com/default.htm. Accessed August 2004
7
WHO Expert Consultation: Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and its implications for policy and intervention strategies.
Lancet
 
363
:
157
–163,
2004
8
Haffner SM, Stern MP, Hazuda HP, Pugh J, Patterson JK: Do upper-body and centralized adiposity measure different aspects of regional body-fat distribution? Relationship to non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, lipids, and lipoproteins.
Diabetes
 
36
:
43
–51,
1987
9
Kamath SK, Hussain EA, Amin D, Mortillaro E, West B, Peterson CT, Aryee F, Murillo G, Alekel DL: Cardiovascular disease risk factors in 2 distinct ethnic groups: Indian and Pakistani compared with American premenopausal women.
Am J Clin Nutr
 
69
:
621
–631,
1999
10
Chandalia M, Abate N, Garg A, Stray-Gundersen J, Grundy SM: Relationship between generalized and upper body obesity to insulin resistance in Asian Indian men.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
 
84
:
2329
–2335,
1999
11
Misra A, Vikram Nk, Arya S, Pandey RM, Dhingra V, Chatterjee A, Dwivedi M, Sharma R, Luthra K, Guleria R, Talwar KK: High prevalence of insulin resistance in postpubertal Asian Indian children is associated with adverse truncal body fat patterning, abdominal adiposity and excess body fat.
Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord
 
28
:
1217
–1226,
2004
12
Misra A, Chaudhary D, Vikram NK, Mittal V, Devi JR, Pandey RM, Khanna N, Sharma R, Peshin S: Insulin resistance and clustering of atherogenic risk factors in women belonging to low socio-economic strata in urban slums of North India.
Diabetes Res Clin Pract
 
56
:
73
–75,
2002
13
Misra A, Pandey RM, Devi JR, Sharma R, Vikram NK, Khanna N: High prevalence of diabetes, obesity and dyslipidaemia in urban slum population in northern India.
Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord
 
25
:
1722
–1729,
2001
14
Misra A, Sharma R, Pandey RM, Khanna N: Adverse profile of dietary nutrients, anthropometry and lipids in urban slum dwellers of northern India.
Eur J Clin Nutr
 
55
:
727
–734,
2001
15
Dudeja V, Misra A, Pandey RM, Devina G, Kumar G, Vikram NK: BMI does not accurately predict overweight in Asian Indians in northern India.
Br J Nutr
 
86
:
105
–112,
2001
16
Friedewald WT, Levy RI, Fredrikson DS: Estimation of the concentration of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in plasma without use of the preparative ultracentrifuge.
Clin Chem
 
18
:
499
–502,
1972
17
Ducimetiere P, Richard J, Cambien F: The pattern of subcutaneous fat distribution in middle-aged men and the risk of coronary heart disease: the Paris Prospective Study.
Int J Obes
 
10
:
229
–240,
1986
18
Butler WJ, Ostrander LD Jr., Carman WJ, Lamphiear DE: Diabetes mellitus in Tecumseh, Michigan: prevalence, incidence, and associated conditions.
Am J Epidemiol
 
116
:
971
–980,
1982
19
Yajnik CS, Lubree HG, Rege SS, Naik SS, Deshpande JA, Deshpande SS, Joglekar CV, Yudkin JS: Adiposity and hyperinsulinemia in Indians are present at birth.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab
 
87
:
5575
–5580,
2002

A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.

DIABETES CARE
2005