Prevalence of metabolic syndrome is still underestimated in the Chinese population

A report by He et al. on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Chinese population, is presented. The report aimed to correct underestimation of prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Chinese population using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria presented in Berlin in April, 2005. According to He et al., the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in elderly Chinese was 30.5% (17.6% in men and 39.2% in women) by the National Cholesterol Education Programs Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATPIII) criteria. The use of new IDF criteria showed increased prevalence of 46.3% (34.8% in men and 54.1% in women). The new IDF definition of metabolic syndrome using the cutoff value for waist circumference of 90 cm in men and 80 cm in women still underestimates the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the Chinese population. The report proposes that appropriate cutoff points for the Chines adults should be 85 cm in men and 80 cm in women.