Metabolic syndrome: a review on diagnostic criteria

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is characterized by a group of metabolic abnormalities that include obesity, dyslipidemia, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance and hypertension, and is associated with cardiovascular diseases. OBJECTIVES: To describe the historical aspects of MS recognition and compare the various definitions proposed for this syndrome. METHODOLOGY: A survey on bibliographic databases Medline, Lilacs and Scielo was conducted in June, 2008. Used descriptors were: metabolic syndrome x, history, diagnosis, and epidemiology; according to the MeSH and DECs. Bibliographic references were also analyzed. Forty nine articles were selected once the authors clearly described the goals and the confusion variables; they had external validity, internal validity, and good statistical power. RESULTS: Six MS definitions were proposed by international health organizations:World Health Organization, National Cholesterol Education Program, European Group for the Study of Insulin Resistance, American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists/American College of Endocrinology, and International Diabetes Federation. All organizations used specific components and cut-off points for MS diagnosis. However, dyslipidemia, hypertension, obesity, measures of glycaemia and insulin resistance were included in most of the settings. One the other hand, concordance among these definitions was weak, producing different prevalence rates and risk factors for MS in the same population. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to establish a consensual definition for MS.