Table 1.

Main work definitions for the metabolic syndrome

Definition	AHA/NHLBI 2009[4]	NCEP-ATPIII 2004[2]	IDF 2005[3]
Mandatory criteria
	None	None	WCa with ethnicity specific values For Europeans: ≥ 94 cm (men) ≥ 80 cm (women)
Additional criteria	At least 3 of the following features	At least 3 of the following features	At least 2 of the following features
Central Obesity	Increased WCa,b	WC ≥ 102 cm (men) WC ≥ 88 cm (women)
Triglycerides (TG)	≥ 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) or specific drug treatment for elevated TG	≥ 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) or specific drug treatment for elevated TG	≥ 150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L) or specific drug treatment for elevated TG
HDL-cholesterol	< 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) (men) < 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L)(women) or specific drug treatment for dyslipidaemia	< 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) (men) < 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L)(women) or specific drug treatment for dyslipidaemia	< 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L) (men) < 50 mg/dL (1.3 mmol/L)(women) or specific drug treatment for dyslipidaemia
Blood Pressure	SBP ≥ 130 or DBP ≥ 85 mmHG or specific treatment for hypertension	SBP ≥ 130 or DBP ≥ 85 mmHG or specific treatment for hypertension	SBP ≥ 130 or DBP ≥ 85 mmHG or specific treatment for hypertension
Fasting glucose	≥ 100 mg/dL (5.5 mmol/L) or specific treatment for hyperglycaemia	≥ 100 mg/dL (5.5 mmol/L) or specific treatment for hyperglycaemia	≥ 100 mg/dL (5.5 mmol/L) or previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes

^aWaist circumference

^bIt is recommended that the IDF cutoffs are used for non-Europeans and either the IDF or NCEP-ATPIII cut points used for people of European origin until more data are available.