Optimal cut-off levels of obesity indices by different definitions of metabolic syndrome in a southeast rural Chinese population

Aims/introduction: The aim of the present study was to compare the cut-off values and prediction effect of different obesity indices by different definitions of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Zhejiang Province of China.

Materials and methods: We carried out a cross-sectional survey of 10,100 individuals (age 40 years and older) in Jiashan, Zhejiang Province. Receiver operating characteristic analysis was used to examine discrimination and find optimal cut off values of waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to predict two or more non-adipose components of MetS by The National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, And Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol In Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III) definition modified by the Asia-Pacific region criteria, International Diabetes Federation definition for the Chinese population and Chinese Diabetes Society definitions of MetS.

Results: The age-standardized prevalence of MetS was 23.78% vs 28.76% vs 19.37% by The National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, And Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol In Adults (Adult Treatment Panel III), International Diabetes Federation and Chinese Diabetes Society definitions, respectively. Cut-off values of BMI were approximately 24 kg/m(2) both in men and women by three definitions; the average cut-off values of WC, WHR and WHtR were 83 cm in men vs 81 cm in women, 0.89 in men vs 0.86 in women and 0.50 in men vs 0.51 in women, respectively. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve of BMI was larger than WC both in men and women (P < 0.05); in women, the area under receiver operating characteristic curve of WHtR was larger than WC, and WHR was smaller.

Conclusions: MetS is prevalent in Zhejiang Province of China, especially in the female population. BMI and WHtR might be more useful than WC and WHR for predicting two or more non-adipose components of MetS.