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Abstract
To establish a unified working diagnostic tool for the metabolic syndrome (MetS) that
is convenient to use in clinical practice and that can be used world-wide so that
data from different countries can be compared. An additional aim was to highlight
areas where more research into the MetS is needed.
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) convened a workshop held 12-14 May 2004
in London, UK. The 21 participants included experts in the fields of diabetes, public
health, epidemiology, lipidology, genetics, metabolism, nutrition and cardiology.
There were participants from each of the five continents as well as from the World
Health Organization (WHO) and the National Cholesterol Education Program-Third Adult
Treatment Panel (ATP III). The workshop was sponsored by an educational grant from
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals.
The consensus statement emerged following detailed discussions at the IDF workshop.
After the workshop, a writing group produced a consensus statement which was reviewed
and approved by all participants.
The IDF has produced a new set of criteria for use both epidemiologically and in clinical
practice world-wide with the aim of identifying people with the MetS to clarify the
nature of the syndrome and to focus therapeutic strategies to reduce the long-term
risk of cardiovascular disease. Guidance is included on how to compensate for differences
in waist circumference and in regional adipose tissue distribution between different
populations. The IDF has also produced recommendations for additional criteria that
should be included when studying the MetS for research purposes. Finally, the IDF
has identified areas where more studies are currently needed; these include research
into the aetiology of the syndrome.