The association of metabolic syndrome components and diabetes mellitus: evidence from China National Stroke Screening and Prevention Project

BACKGROUND: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) is related with cardiovascular disease. However, its relationship with diabetes mellitus (DM) has not been examined in Chinese population with a larger sample. We aimed to assess the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components, and DM, and to determine the best one from the available definitions of Mets when assessing the risk of DM. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional survey in a nationally representative sample of 109,551 Chinese adults aged ≥40 years in 2014–15. MetS was defined according to three criteria including the updated International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criterion, the National Cholesterol Education Program Third Adult Treatment Panel (NCEP ATP III) criterion and American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) criterion. Logistic regression models were used to estimate the odds of DM. RESULTS: MetS as defined by three criteria including IDF, NCEP ATP III,and AHA/NHLBI all increased the prevalence of DM, and the adjusted ORs with 95% CI was more higher using NCEP ATP III (3.65, 3.52–3.79) than IDF (2.50, 2.41–2.60) and AHA/NHLBI (3.03, 2.92–3.24). The odds of DM was highest in hyperglycemia with cut-off glucose≥6.1 mmol/L (14.55, 13.97–15.16), and other components were also associated significantly with DM. There was heterogeneity for OR of DM associated with various trait combinations. CONCLUSIONS: The NCEP ATPIII MetS definition may be more suitable for assessment of DM risk in Chinese population. Hyperglycemia, as previous study reported, are important risk factors of DM. Besides, other traits of Mets are also significantly associated with DM and should therefore be of greater concern.