Diagnostic performance of three anthropometric indices of weight and height for metabolic syndrome in workers

Abstract

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome is associated with long-term chronic diseases, which is why different ways of obtaining an early diagnosis are sought. Objective: To determine the diagnostic yield of 3 anthropometric indices of weight and height for metabolic syndrome in a sample of Peruvian workers. Methods: The population are workers from 18 to 65 years old, both sexes, occupation operators and administrators; the studied variables were: age, sex, occupation, weight, height, waist circumference, history of type 2 diabetes mellitus, pressure systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein; 370 workers were included, receiver operating characteristic curves (ROC) were created with their respective area under the curve, obtaining the sensitivity and specificity of each of the indices. Results: Of the total number of workers, 20% presented Metabolic Syndrome; 46.76% were women, 60% drank alcohol at some time, and 5.14% reported having smoked. The Body Mass Index the greatest ROC= 0.73; cutoff= 26.04; sensitivity= 78.4 and specificity= 67.9) followed by the New Body Mass Index (ROC= 0.70; cutoff= 27.85; sensitivity= 68.9 and specificity= 70.6), the last place was occupied by the Triponderal Index (ROC= 0.66; cutoff= 16.67; sensitivity= 67.6 and specificity= 64.5); the parameters for metabolic syndrome showed a statistically significant association. Conclusion: Body Mass Index is the best diagnostic yield for Metabolic Syndrome and could be a useful predictor to detect this syndrome.

Keywords

• síndrome metabólico
• índice de masa corporal
• diagnóstico precoz
• sensibilidad y especificidad
• área bajo la curva.