The reliability of a questionnaire-based metabolic syndrome surveillance tool

Background: The objectives of this study were to report measures of internal consistency and test-retest reliability for a proxy method of detecting the metabolic syndrome with a questionnaire-based Metabolic Syndrome Surveillance tool (Met-X StL). Methods: The Met-X StL was constructed to obtain information concerning metabolic syndrome risk factors, and added to a population-based survey targeting rural, mid-western communities in three states with above average risk for chronic disease. Two to four weeks following individual completion of the survey, we re-administered the Met-X StL to a group of one-hundred randomly selected participants and assessed the tool for internal consistency and test-retest reliability. Results: Study participants were mostly females (70%), and of Caucasian ethnicity (97%), with an average age of 60.7 yrs. and some college education (65%). Our proxy method of detecting the metabolic syndrome revealed a prevalence of 31% in a population with mixed awareness concerning their current health status. The measures of internal consistency were acceptable (test = 0.75 | retest = 0.73). The retest reliability for each risk factor of the metabolic syndrome ranged from moderate (0.50-Physical Activity) to almost perfect agreement (0.97-BMI), while the reliability of the proxy metabolic syndrome diagnosis was substantial (0.77). Conclusions: The Met-X StL is reliable in a rural population with an above average risk profile. This method may have application in population-based surveillance or intervention projects that wish to consider the metabolic syndrome, but are lacking the resources for clinical testing.