Obesity Indices for Identifying Metabolic Syndrome Among Type Two Diabetes Patients Attending Their Follow-Up in Dessie Referral Hospital, North east Ethiopia

INTRODUCTION: Worldwide, metabolic syndrome is a common problem among T2DM patients. Even though the International Diabetes Federation recommended waist circumference as a diagnostic tool for metabolic syndrome, the appropriate indices and cut-off point remain controversial. OBJECTIVE: To assess obesity indices in identifying metabolic syndrome among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Dessie Referral Hospital, North east Ethiopia. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 363 consecutively selected T2DM in Dessie Referral Hospital from February to March 2017. Data were collected by interviewer-administered questionnaire. Height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, lipid profile, blood glucose levels and blood pressure were taken. Descriptive statistics were computed. Receiver operator characteristic curve analysis with a 95% confidence interval and p-value <0.05 was used to identify the discriminate ability of each index, while the optimal cut point of each index was determined by Youden’s index. RESULTS: A total of 330 study participants were included in the study. Based on ATP III definition, the magnitude of metabolic syndrome among T2DM patients was 59.4% (53.6–64.5%). Waist to height ratio (optimal cut point=0.54, AUC=0.85) and waist circumference (optimal cut point= 83 cm, AUC=0.75) were the best predictor of metabolic syndrome for women and men, respectively. For the entire study participant, waist to height ratio (optimal cut point=0.51, AUC=0.79) was the best predictor of metabolic syndrome among type 2 diabetes patients. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: Waist to height ratio and waist circumference was the best predictor of metabolic syndrome for women and men, respectively. So, appropriate indices optimal cut-off point should be included to diagnose metabolic syndrome among T2DM.