OBJECTIVETo compare the differences of three diagnostic criterions for metabolic syndrome( MS), issued by the National Cholesterol Education Program(NECP), International Diabetes Federation(IDF) and CDS,in a Chinese population aged 35-64 years in 11 provinces.

METHODSA total of 29 564 Chinese resedents aged 35-64 years were recruited from 11 provinces and a survey on cardiovascular risk factors was conducted in 1992. Additionally,3129 participants were added into the study from 1996 to 1999. MS prevalence was calculated according to three definitions and results of MS components distributions and risk factor aggregation were analyzed.

RESULTS(1)The age-adjusted prevalence of MS in Chinese population were 18.7% for ATP III criterion, 14.6% for IDF criterion and 9.0% for CDS criterion,respectively. (2)Seventy-seven point eight percent of the subjects with MS diagnosed by ATP II criterion presented central obesity. Four point six percent of subjects without MS diagnosed by IDF criterion and 11.2% of subjects without MS diagnosed by CDS criterion presented at least 3 risk factors, respectively. (3)Kappa index showed 0.795 for ATPIII criterion and 0.899 for IDF criterion when applied in Chinese population. (4)The shortest distance in ROC curve for forecasting risk factor aggregation of MS was 0.40 in male and 0.34 in female when waist circumferences were 85 cm in males and 80 cm in females respectively.

CONCLUSIONATPIII definition could be used to detect the highest prevalence of MS and the percent of risk factor aggregation among three definitions. The appropriate cut-off points of waist circumference for Chinese were 85 cm for male and 80 cm for female respectively.