Introduction:

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with overweightness and/or obesity, hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemias, and insulin resistance; timely detection can help to avoid or reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases or type 2 diabetes mellitus, which the main causes of death from noncommunicable diseases in Mexico.

Objective:

The objective of the study was to evaluate the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) as a parameter for risk assessment and diagnosis of MS in a population of apparently healthy young adults.

Materials and Methods:

This was a cross-sectional study. Sample of 337 subjects was recruited. Biochemical and anthropometric parameters were determined for the presence of MS, obtaining WHtR and quartiles were generated to propose a cutoff point with which the risk and diagnostic utility of this ratio were assessed by means of quantitative comparisons, risk analysis, and likelihood analysis.

Results:

The WHtR is a very sensitive and specific test for the diagnosis of MS. The areas under the curve were 98% and 83%, respectively, for men and women, for the diagnosis of MS (p < 0.0001). It was found that a WHtR higher than 0.53 increases the risk of MS (odds ratio = 18.62, 95% confidence interval = 1.7-208, p = 0.02). Potential impact measures suggest by controlling the WHtR, 94% of MS cases could be prevented.

Conclusions:

The WHtR is useful and accurate for the diagnosis of the MS in apparently healthy young adults.

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