[Influence of the self-reported skin color on the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an urban Brazilian population].

Background: The metabolic syndrome (MS) has a high prevalence in different parts of the world, with variations between different ethnic groups.

Objective: This study aims at exploring the influence of the self-reported skin color on the prevalence of MS Methods: Cross-sectional study, carried out in a population subgroup (n=1,439 adults) in Salvador, Brazil. The self-reported skin color (white, mulatto or black) was used as well as the MS criterion of ATP-III.

An evaluation of the Rastreometro, a new device for populational screening for high blood pressure in developing countries.

Objective: To test a simplified blood pressure device called Rastreometro that could be used by the Health Agents.

Methods: The Rastreometro has been developed from an ordinary aneroid sphygmomanometer, in which the numeric display is covered by an adhesive with a red zone, indicating pressures equal or above 140 mmHg and a yellow zone indicating pressures below 140 mmHg. The onset of oscillations of the aneroid needle is taken as an indication of the systolic pressure value.

Criteria for central obesity in a Brazilian population: impact on metabolic syndrome.

Objective: To identify and propose the optimal waist circumference cut-off points (WCp) for the diagnosis of central obesity (CO) in a Brazilian population, so as to compare these cut-off points with those recommended by the ATPIII (WC-ATPIII), and to estimate the difference in prevalence rates of metabolic syndrome (MS) using the two criteria.

Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted in a population subgroup of 1439 adults in the city of Salvador, Brazil. ROC curves of waist circumference (WC) were plotted to identify diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity.