• Nigel Unwin, Raj Bhopal, Louise Hayes, Martin White, Sheila Patel, Dalip Ragoobirsingh, and George Alberti.
• School of Clinical Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK. n.c.unwin@ncl.ac.uk
• Ethnic Dis. 2007 Jan 1; 17 (3): 522-8.

ObjectivesTo compare the prevalence, agreement and phenotypic characteristics in three ethnic groups of the new International Diabetes Federation (IDF) definition of metabolic syndrome (MS) to the World Health Organization (WHO) and national cholesterol education program (NCEP) definitions.SettingNewcastle upon Tyne, England.DesignCross-sectional surveys.ParticipantsChinese (171 men and 185 women), European (257 men and 301 women), and South Asian (264 men and 295 women) adults, ages 25 to 64 years.Main Outcome MeasuresAnthropometric indices: blood pressure, fasting lipids, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance.ResultsIDF-defined MS was highly prevalent in all groups, ranging from 12.3% (95% CIs 7.4-17.2) in Chinese men to 45.5% (39.5-51.5) in South Asian men. In women, of all ethnic groups, more than 80% of those with WHO- or NCEP-defined MS also had IDF-defined MS. In men, however, agreement was less good. For example, in each ethnic group, more than a third of those with WHO-defined MS did not have IDF-defined MS. Within each ethnic group, the biological characteristics of those with MS by any definition were largely the same. However, differences existed between ethnic groups. For example, in those with IDF-defined MS, both South Asian men and women had significantly (P < .05) higher insulin resistance and significantly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure than Europeans or Chinese.ConclusionsAgreement between the IDF and other definitions is better in women than men. The phenotype is similar within each ethnic group whatever the definition, but differs between groups suggesting that risks associated with MS differ by ethnic group.

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