OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome, which affects the general population in epidemic proportions, is associated with a set of cardiovascular disease risk factors. The aims of this cross-sectional study were to determine the prevalence and investigate the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome in outpatients living with HIV/AIDS using anthropometric and clinical evaluations. METHOD: The study was carried out on 253 HIV infected outpatients. Metabolic syndrome was classified according to the

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... ational Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP/ATPIII) and the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with the metabolic syndrome. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome varied from 19.4% to 26.4%, according to the criterion used. The factors associated with it in the two classifications used, when adjusted by sex and BMI, were age (≥ 40years) and subscapular skinfold (> 12 mm). In the final model, using the NCEP/ATPIII criterion the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome were age ≥ 40 years (OR = 3.18; CI95% = 1.42; 7.14) and subscapular skinfold > 12 mm (OR = 2.85, CI95% = 1.13; 7.17). In the final model, using the IDF criterion the risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome were age (OR = 3.38, CI95% = 1.61; 7.10) and subscapular skinfold > 12 mm (OR = 4.37, CI95% = 1.84; 10.39). CONCLUSION: In clinical practice, the regular monitoring of subscapular skinfold can help in the identification of HIV infected individuals in risk of MS.