Identifying metabolic syndrome without blood tests in young adults--The Terneuzen Birth Cohort

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Abstract
Background: Within the context of the obesity epidemic identifying young adults at risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease is important. A practical approach is based on the identification of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Our objective was to develop a simple and efficient stepwise strategy to identify MetS in young adults. Methods: Subjects were part of a birth cohort (n = 2599) in Terneuzen, The Netherlands, born in 1977–86. In 2004–05: 642 of these young adults participated in a physical examination and blood tests. Tree regression was used to determine the optimal decision strategy to identify MetS. Results: Overall prevalence of MetS, defined according to the NCEP ATPIII, was 7.5%. The tree regression yielded an optimal stepwise strategy that eliminated the need for blood tests for the diagnosis of MetS in 50–90% of the cases, depending on the accepted level of error. A large group (52% of the total) with BMI Conclusion: In most young adults MetS can be identified or excluded without blood tests by a simple and stepwise strategy, based on the measurement of BMI, WC and BP. This makes it possible to develop simple prevention strategies for young adults at risk for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

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