INTRODUCTION: Although metabolic syndrome (MetS) is receiving increased attention from physicians, data on the syndrome's association with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Iranian populations are limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To estimate the odds ratio (OR) of MetS defined by each of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the Adult Treatment Panel (ATPIII) and the WHO definitions for CHD, logistic regression analysis was used on 5981 subjects aged>/=30 years, in both sexes in 3 models; model 1 an age adjusted model, model 2 adjusted for age, smoking status, premature history of CHD and LDL cholesterol and model 3 adjusted for mentioned variables plus the MetS components. RESULTS: The MetS defined by all the three definitions was associated with CHD in models 1 and 2.The relatively highest odds ratio (95% CI) of the MetS for CHD was defined in model 2 by WHO definition in men (2.3 (1.8-3)) and the ATPIII definition in women (1.6 (1.3-2)). In model 3, MetS lost its association with CHD; in men however, high fasting plasma glucose and high blood pressure (plus obesity by the WHO definition) and in women, high blood pressure (plus high waist circumference by the ATPIII, obesity and glucose domain by the WHO definition) remained associated with CHD. CONCLUSIONS: In Iranian men and women, all three definitions of MetS were associated with CHD when considering the conventional risk factors. After further adjusting MetS components, none of these definitions showed association with CHD and only high blood pressure remained related to CHD in both sexes in all definitions

INTRODUCTION: Although metabolic syndrome (MetS) is receiving increased attention from physicians, data on the syndrome's association with coronary heart disease (CHD) in Iranian populations are limited. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To estimate the odds ratio (OR) of MetS defined by each of the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), the Adult Treatment Panel (ATPIII) and the WHO definitions for CHD, logistic regression analysis was used on 5981 subjects aged>/=30 years, in both sexes in 3 models; model 1 an age adjusted model, model 2 adjusted for age, smoking status, premature history of CHD and LDL cholesterol and model 3 adjusted for mentioned variables plus the MetS components. RESULTS: The MetS defined by all the three definitions was associated with CHD in models 1 and 2.The relatively highest odds ratio (95% CI) of the MetS for CHD was defined in model 2 by WHO definition in men (2.3 (1.8-3)) and the ATPIII definition in women (1.6 (1.3-2)). In model 3, MetS lost its association with CHD; in men however, high fasting plasma glucose and high blood pressure (plus obesity by the WHO definition) and in women, high blood pressure (plus high waist circumference by the ATPIII, obesity and glucose domain by the WHO definition) remained associated with CHD. CONCLUSIONS: In Iranian men and women, all three definitions of MetS were associated with CHD when considering the conventional risk factors. After further adjusting MetS components, none of these definitions showed association with CHD and only high blood pressure remained related to CHD in both sexes in all definitions.