Metabolic syndrome among adults with type 2 diabetes in a Saudi teaching hospital: A comparative prevalence study using WHO and ATP III definitions

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) has become a global health concern and is a reliable predictor of long-term adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of MetS and its components in a group of Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes using the World Health Organization (WHO) and Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III definitions, and to examine agreement between both definitions. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included adults with type 2 diabetes who were followed up at the family medicine and endocrinology clinics of King Abdulaziz University Hospital (KAUH) from January to March 2018. An interview-administered questionnaire was designed to collect demographic data, anthropometric measurements, and medical history. We used the 1999 WHO and 2001 ATP III definitions for diagnosing MetS. RESULTS: The study included 155 diabetes patients. The overall prevalence of MetS components (three of more components) among patients was 80% according to the WHO criteria and 85.8% according to the ATP III criteria. The kappa statistics demonstrated good agreement between both definitions (κ = 0.751, p < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity of diagnosing MetS using the WHO versus ATP III criteria were 92.5% and 95.5%, respectively. There was weak positive association between the number of MetS components and the number of diabetic complications. CONCLUSIONS: MetS was highly prevalent among Saudi adults with type 2 diabetes regardless of the diagnostic criteria. It is, therefore, imperative that clinicians identify MetS in this patient population and educate them on the importance of adherence to treatment and therapeutic lifestyle changes.