Definition and diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome

We used the revised NCEP ATP III criteria⁽²⁾ for MetS with waist circumference cut-offs for the Asian population. Specifically, MetS was diagnosed when three or more of the following criteria were met: (a) central obesity: waist circumference ≥90 cm for males and ≥80 cm for females; (b) systolic BP ≥130 mmHg or diastolic BP ≥85 mmHg or on antihypertensive medication; (c) fasting plasma glucose (FBG) ≥5·6 mmol/l or on medication for high blood glucose; (d) HDL-cholesterol <1·03 mmol/l for males and <1·30 mmol/l for females or on medication for reduced HDL-cholesterol; (e) TAG ≥ 1·7 mmol/l or on medication for elevated TAG^(1,2,15).