BACKGROUND: The availability of several definitions of the metabolic syndrome 
has created potential confusion concerning its prognostic utility. At present, 
little data exist about the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome in 
diabetic patients.
AIM: To identify risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome in patients 
with type 2 diabetes mellitus according to three diagnostic criteria: World 
Health Organization (WHO), Third Report of the National Cholesterol Education 
Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood 
Cholesterol in Adults - Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP-ATP III), and 
International Diabetes Federation (IDF).
SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A logistic regression model was used to identify 
demographic, clinical, and lifestyle variables related with metabolic syndrome 
(N = 1259).
RESULTS: Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA(1c)) ≥7% 
were associated with increased risk of WHO-defined metabolic syndrome (odds 
ratio [OR], 2.33; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.60-3.40; OR, 1.79 95% CI: 
1.25-2.55; and OR, 1.58; 95% CI: 1.12-2.22, respectively). The risk of 
presenting metabolic syndrome according to NCEP-ATP III criteria was increased 
in female patients (OR, 2.02; 95% CI: 1.37-2.97), elevated fasting glucose 
levels (OR, 5.99; 95% CI: 3.56-10.07), dyslipidemia (OR, 2.28; 95% CI: 
1.57-3.32), hypertension (OR, 2.36; 95% CI: 1.59-3.53), and endocrine disorders 
(OR, 1.64; 95% CI: 1.06-2.57). For the IDF criteria, female patients and 
patients with left ventricular hypertrophy or insulin treatment were at higher 
risk of metabolic syndrome (OR, 4.00; 95% CI: 2.35-6.80; OR, 2.72 95% CI: 
1.22-6.04; and OR, 1.96 95% CI: 1.24-3.11, respectively).
CONCLUSIONS: The risk factors for metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes mellitus 
patients are highly dependent on the criteria used to define the syndrome, 
supporting the need for a single clinically useful and epidemiologically useful 
definition.