Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Oman using the International Diabetes Federation's Criteria

everal epidemiological studies reported high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Arab populations of the Middle East, 1,2 and elsewhere. 3 In Oman, the age-adjusted prevalence of metabolic syndrome among Omanis was shown to be 21% using the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. 4 However, in their pursuit to standardize the data reporting, the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) adopted a worldwide consensus definition of the metabolic syndrome. 5 To determine the effect of the new definition on the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome in Oman, we reanalyzed data of a cross- sectional survey of the Nizwa Healthy Lifestyle Project. The survey was conducted in 2001 and contained a probability random sample of Omani adults aged ≥20 years living in the city of Nizwa (180 km south to the capital of Muscat). The overall response rate for the survey was 75.5%. After excluding pregnant women (n=72) and individuals with missing data on various components of the metabolic syndrome (n=20), 1,419 subjects' data were analyzed. Details of sampling methods, laboratory specimens collection, and analysis were given elsewhere. 4 Intercooled Males (n=695) 95% CI Females (n=724) 95% CI Total (n=1419) 95% CI n (%) n (%) n (%)