OBJECTIVETo compare the significance of the application of three diagnostic criteria of metabolic syndrome (MS), issued by the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel II (ATPIII) in 2005, International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2005 and Chinese Diabetes Society (CDS) in 2004, in type 2 diabetes mellitus pedigrees.

METHODSTotally,4468 subjects (including spouses) from 715 type 2 diabetic pedigrees were selected in this study. Complete laboratory data, including blood pressure, lipid profile and plasma glucose, were collected. The prevalence rates of MS and the unity of three criteria were analyzed.

RESULTSThe prevalence rates of MS were 44.94% (2008/4468), 37.87% (1692/4468) and 23.86% (1066/4468) according to the ATPIII, IDF and CDS criteria respectively. It subsequently increased in second-degree relatives, spouses, first-degree relatives and probands (ATP III: 23.78% (117/492), 35.77% (318/889), 45.40% (1077/2372) and 69.37% (496/715); IDF: 20.53% (101/492), 31.61% (281/889), 38.74% (919/2372) and 54.69% (391/715); CDS: 8.94% (44/492), 16.99% (151/889), 25.08% (595/2372) and 38.60% (276/715); ATPIII: chi2 = 266.359, IDF: chi2 = 155.950, CDS: chi2 = 165.087, respectively, P < 0.01). The prevalence rates of MS, as defined by the ATP III and IDF criteria, were higher in females than in males (ATP III: 47.47% (1156/2435) and 41.91% (852/2033); IDF: 43.00% (1047/2435) and 31.73% (645/2033); chi2 = 13.871 and 60.169, respectively, P < 0.01), and was lower in females than in males as defined by the CDS criterion (22.38% and 25.63%, respectively, chi2 = 6.423, P = 0.011). The agreement in the diagnosis of MS using ATPIII and IDF, ATPIII and CDS, IDF and CDS was 92.93%, 75.56% and 77.21% respectively. Kappa index were 0.855, 0.484 and 0.478 respectively (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONATP III criterion showed the highest prevalence of MS and the percent of risk factor aggregation which best reflected the characteristics of MS in familial type 2 diabetic pedigrees.