Analysis of the metabolic syndrome and comparison of 4 diagnostic and predictive indices in a population from northern Spain: a retrospective cohort study

Background Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) presents a significant public health challenge due to its increasing prevalence and association with cardiovascular risk. Efficient and early detection is crucial for effective management. Objective This study evaluates the effectiveness of the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) as a predictive tool for MetS, comparing it with traditional anthropometric indices within a representative Spanish cohort. Methods From the CRONAP cohort, which includes 732,585 patients, 3,107 individuals were selected based on available data necessary for calculating VAI and other indices. MetS was diagnosed using the NCEP-ATP III criteria. Analytical and demographic data were analyzed, and predictive capacities of VAI, waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), and the atherogenic index (AI) were assessed through statistical analyses and ROC curve