Waist-to-hip ratio is a better screening measure for cardiovascular risk factors than other anthropometric indicators in Tehranian adult men

BACKGROUND: It is essential to identify the best anthropometric index in any population to predict chronic disease risk. OBJECTIVE: To compare the ability of waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHpR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to predict cardiovascular risk factors in an urban adult population of Tehranian men. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. SUBJECTS: A representative sample of 4,449 men aged 18-74 y, participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study METHODS: Demographic data were collected; anthropometric indices and blood pressure were measured according to standard protocol. In the 18-34 y age category, cutoff points for BMI, WHpR, WHtR and WC were 24 kg/m(2), 0.86, 0.47 and 81 cm, respectively. In the 35-54 y age category these cut points were 26 kg/m(2), 0.91, 0.52 and 89 cm, and in the 55-74 y age category 26 kg/m(2), 0.95, 0.54 and 91 cm, respectively. Hypertension was defined based on JNC VI. Biochemical analysis was conducted on fasting blood samples. Diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose > or =126 mg/dl or 2hPG > or =200 mg/dl and dyslipidemia based on ATP III. The presence of 'at least one risk factor' from the three major cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes) was also evaluated. RESULTS: Mean age of men was 41.8+/-15.4 y. Mean BMI, WHpR, WC and WHtR for subjects were 25.6+/-4.2 kg/m(2), 0.91+/-0.07, 87.7+/-11.7 cm and 0.51+/-0.02, respectively. Dyslipidemia and 'at least one risk factor' are more prevalent risk categories. Although all anthropometric indicators had a significant association to cardiovascular risk factors, WHpR had the highest correlation coefficients compared to other anthropometric measures. For all risk factors in all age categories, the highest odds ratios were pertained to WHpR. Of the four individual indicators, WHpR had the highest sensitivity, specificity and accuracy to predict cardiovascular risk factors. Cutoff points for WHpR were seen to have a higher percentage of correct prediction than BMI, WC and WHtR in all age categories. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that WHpR is a better predictor for cardiovascular risk factors than BMI, WC and WHtR in Tehranian adult men.     

Four anthropometric indices and cardiovascular risk factors in Taiwan

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationships between four anthropometric measurements and cardiovascular risk factors in Taiwan. DESIGN: The data was collected from four nationwide health screen centers in Taiwan from 1998 to 1999. SUBJECTS: A total of 38 556 subjects: 18 280 men and 20 276 women, mean age=37.0+/-11.1 y. None had any known major systemic diseases or were currently on medication. MEASUREMENTS: Individual body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and cardiovascular risk factors (blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol level, low-density and high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol level) were assessed and their relationships were examined. RESULTS: In both sexes, with increasing body mass index (BMI), WC, WHpR (waist-to-hip ratio) and WHtR (waist-to-height ratio), there were significantly higher risks of hypertension, impaired fasting glucose, diabetes and dyslipidemia (P<0.001) in almost all age groups. In the age groups older than 65, however, the relationships were statistically inconsistent. CONCLUSIONS: In Taiwan, the four anthropometric indexes (BMI, WC, WHpR, WHtR) are closely related to cardiovascular risk factors.     

Accuracy of anthropometric indicators of obesity to predict cardiovascular risk

CONTEXT: Obesity is associated with various cardiovascular risk factors. The body mass index (BMI) is the standard measure of overweight and obesity. However, more recently, waist to hip ratio (WHR) or waist circumference (WC) as more sensitive measures for visceral obesity have been proposed to be more indicative of cardiovascular risk. OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to test the predictive value of anthropometric parameters for the presence of several cardiovascular risk conditions. DESIGN: The DETECT (Diabetes Cardiovascular Risk-Evaluation: Targets and Essential Data for Commitment of Treatment) study is a cross-sectional, clinical-epidemiological study. PARTICIPANTS: We studied 5377 unselected subjects (2016 men, 3361 women) without arteriosclerotic disease, aged 20-79 yr, from the DETECT laboratory sample. SETTING: This study was conducted by primary care physicians. INTERVENTION: We measured anthropometric parameters and assessed cardiovascular risk by clinical examination, patient history, and a standardized laboratory program. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed the associations of BMI, WC, hip circumference, WHR, and waist to height ratio (WHtR) to cardiovascular risk by calculating the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve and adjusted odds ratios for metabolic syndrome, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: The area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve for WHtR was significantly higher than for all other anthropometric parameters with respect to all risk conditions in women and to dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes in men. The odds ratios for the presence of risk conditions with 1 sd increase of each anthropometric parameter were highest for WHtR or WC. CONCLUSIONS: There are some indications that WHtR or WC may predict prevalent cardiovascular risk better than BMI or WHR, even though the differences are small.     

Optimal cut-off values for obesity: using simple anthropometric indices to predict cardiovascular risk factors in Taiwan

BACKGROUND: The increased health risks associated with obesity have been found to occur in Asians at lower body mass indices (BMIs). To determine the optimal cut-off values for overweight or obesity in Taiwan, we examined the relationships between four anthropometric indices and cardiovascular risk factors. METHODS: The data were collected from four health-screening centers from 1998 to 2000 in Taiwan. Included were 55 563 subjects (26 359 men and 29 204 women, mean age=37.3+/-10.9 and 37.0+/-11.1 y, respectively). None had known major systemic diseases or were taking medication. Individual body weight, height, waist circumference (WC), and a series of tests related to cardiovascular risk (blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, low- and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) were assessed and their relationships were examined. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to find out the optimal cut-off values of various anthropometric indices to predict hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: Of the four anthropometric indices we studied, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) in women was found to have the largest areas under the ROC curve (women=0.755, 95% CI 0.748-0.763) relative to at least one risk factor (ie hypertension or diabetes or dyslipidemia). The optimal cut-off values for overweight or obesity from our study in men and women showed that BMIs of 23.6 and 22.1 kg/m(2), WCs of 80.5 and 71.5 cm, waist-to-hip ratios (WHpR) of 0.85 and 0.76, and WHtR of 0.48 and 0.45, respectively, may be more appropriate in Taiwan. CONCLUSIONS: WHtR may be a better indicator for screening overweight- or obesity-related CVD risk factors than the other three indexes (BMI, WC and WHpR) in Taiwan. Our study also supported the hypothesis that the cut-off values using BMI and WC to define obesity should be much lower in Taiwan than in Western countries.     

Waist height ratio and waist circumference in relation to hypertension,Framingham risk score in hospitalized elderly Egyptians

Background

Hypertension is a public health problem and obesity is becoming an epidemic, increasing the risk of hypertension. Both are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome and its association with obesity indices in a Chinese population

Background: To investigate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in an urbanizing community in Qingpu, a suburb of Shanghai, and to determine which obesity indices, including body mass index, waist circumference (WC), and waist:hip (WHpR), and waist:height (WHtR) ratios, are most closely associated with metabolic syndrome. Methods: We conducted a cross‐sectional health survey of 1634 individuals (age 15–87 years) in the Jinhulu community located in Qingpu. The National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel on Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Cholesterol in Adults (NCEP ATP III) criteria were used to define metabolic syndrome, with central obesity defined according to Asia–Pacific (APC) region criteria. Results: The age‐standardized prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 3.6% in men and 7.2% in women. Using the criterion of central obesity in the APC, the age‐standardized prevalence of metabolic syndrome increased to 8.3% in men and 10.9% in women. Regardless of age, WHtR consistently showed a higher odd ratios (OR) after adjustment for confounding factors of 2.17 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.12–4.20; P = 0.022) in subjects<52 years of age and 1.92 (95% CI 1.18–3.11; P = 0.008) in those ≥52 years of age. In men, the WHtR was the only significant predictor (OR 2.42; 95% CI 1.15–5.08; P = 0.02) of metabolic syndrome after adjustment, whereas in women WHtR (OR 1.87; 95% CI 1.37–2.85; P =0.0088) was slightly inferior to WHpR and WC. Conclusion: Metabolic syndrome is prevalent in an urbanizing rural area in Qingpu. Of the anthropometric parameters commonly used to identify metabolic syndrome, WHtR may be the best.     

中心型肥胖人体测量学指标研究现状

腰围、腰臀比(WHR)、腰围/身高比值(WHtR)均为反映中心型肥胖的体表测量指标,与糖尿病、高血压、冠心病等密切相关,均能预测糖尿病、高血压及心血管疾病的发生,但各指标的预测价值具有种族筹异.大量研究显示WHtR为中国人群最佳的中心型肥胖指标,与糖球病及冠心病危险因素的关联强于体重指数(BMI)或腰围、WHR.临床上应重视对WHtR的应用和进一步研究.     

Comparison of different anthropometric measures as predictors of diabetes incidence in a Chinese population

Objective

We aimed to explore an optimal anthropometric indicator and optimal cut-off points for incident diabetes in Chinese adults.

Methods

61,703 subjects were followed for a median duration of 2 years. Body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio were collected base on a standard protocol. Receiver Operating Characteristic curve analyses were used to compare the predictive power of baseline BMI, WC, WHpR and WHtR for development of type 2 diabetes.

Results

There were 2991 new cases of type 2 diabetes during follow-up. ROC curve analyses indicated that WHtR was the best predictor of type 2 diabetes for male (AUC = 0.633). For female, WHtR and WC had similar predictive ability (AUC = 0.701 and 0.695 respectively) and were superior to BMI. WHpR was the weakest predictor in both genders. The optimal WHtR cut-off values for incidence of type 2 diabetes were similar in both genders (0.53 vs. 0.52). BMI was higher in men (26 kg/m²) than women (24 kg/m²); and so did WC (91 cm in men vs. 85 cm in women).

Conclusions

WHtR, and to some degree WC, are the best predictors of type 2 diabetes, followed by BMI then WHpR which is the weakest predictor in the tested adults.     

Waist circumference and body mass index in Chinese children: cutoff values for predicting cardiovascular risk factors

BACKGROUND: Body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) correlate with cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in childhood which track into adulthood. WC provides a measure of central obesity, which has been specifically associated with CV risk factors. Reference standards for WC, and for WC and BMI risk threshold values are not established in Chinese children. OBJECTIVES: To construct reference percentile charts of WC, establish relationships between WC, BMI and other risk factors, and propose WC and BMI threshold values predictive of CV risk factors in Hong Kong ethnic Chinese children. METHODS: Weight, height, waist and hip circumference were measured in 2593 (52% boys, 47% girls) randomly sampled Hong Kong school children aged 6-12 years. In 958 of these and 97 additional overweight children (n=1055), the relationships between WC, BMI, waist/hip and waist/height ratio and six age-adjusted CV risk factors (>85% percentile levels of blood pressure (BP), fasting triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, glucose and insulin levels, and <15% percentile levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol) were studied. Receiver-operating characteristic analysis was employed to derive optimal age-adjusted sex-specific WC and BMI thresholds for predicting these measures of risk. RESULTS: WC percentiles were constructed. WC correlated slightly more than BMI with CV risk factors and most strongly with insulin and systolic BP, but poorly or not with LDL and glucose. Optimal WC and BMI risk thresholds for predicting four of these six CV risk factors were ca. the 85th percentiles (sensitivities approximately 0.8, specificities approximately 0.87) with age-specific cutoff values in girls/boys from approximately 57/58 to approximately 71/76 cm and 17/18 to 22/23 kg/m(2). CONCLUSION: These are the first set of WC reference data for Chinese children. WC risk cutoff values are proposed which, despite a smaller waist in Chinese children, are similar to those reported for American children. WC percentiles may reflect population risk.     

Waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio are better predictors of cardiovascular disease risk factors in children than body mass index

BACKGROUND: Visceral adipose tissue is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease risk factors and morbidity from cardiovascular diseases. Waist measurement and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) have been used as proxy measures of visceral adipose tissue, mainly in adults. OBJECTIVE: To validate body mass index (BMI), waist circumference and WHtR as predictors for the presence of cardiovascular disease risk factors in children of Greek-Cypriot origin. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A total of 1,037 boys and 950 girls with mean age 11.4+/-0.4 y were evaluated. Dependent variables for the study were total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholestrol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure. RESULTS: When children were divided into two groups according to the 75th percentile for BMI, waist circumference and WHtR, all dependent variables had higher mean values in the highest percentile groups in WHtR groups and almost all variables in BMI and waist circumference groups. Adjusted odds ratios for predicting pathological values of cardiovascular disease risk factors were slightly higher for the highest WHtR group for predicting lipid and lipoprotein pathological values and for the highest BMI groups in predicting high blood pressure measurement. Using stepwise multiple regression analysis to explain the variance of the dependent variables, waist circumference was the most significant predictor for all variables both for boys and girls, whereas BMI had the lowest predictive value for the detection of cardiovascular disease risk factors. CONCLUSION: Waist circumference and WHtR are better predictors of cardiovascular disease risk factors in children than BMI. Further studies are necessary to determine the cutoff points for these indices for an accurate prediction of risk factors.     

Appropriate waist circumference cutoff points for central obesity in Korean adults

BACKGROUND: The International Diabetes Federation consensus recently proposed a new definition for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome, incorporating ethnically specific waist circumference (WC) cutoff points. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the ethnically appropriate WC cutoff values for central obesity in Korean adults to predict increased risk of elevated triacylglycerol, reduced HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting plasma glucose, or two or more of these factors. DESIGN: We used data from 6561 adults, aged 20-80 years, who participated in the Korean Health and Nutritional Examination Survey of 1998, a cross-sectional health survey of a nationally representative sample of Koreans. RESULTS: Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the WC value for predicting metabolic risk factors in Koreans was about 85 cm for men and 80 cm for women. The odds ratio for the risk of two or more metabolic risk factors increased abruptly in men with WC >or= 90 cm and women with WC >or= 85 cm. The 80th percentile for WC in the Korean population was 90 cm for men and 86.5 cm for women. Thus, the appropriate WC cutoff point for central obesity in Koreans was determined to be 90 cm for men and 85 cm for women. CONCLUSIONS: Based on our criteria, the prevalence of central obesity was 19.8% in Korean men and 24.5% in Korean women. These findings suggest the applicability of ethnically specific cutoff points for WC in assessing central obesity.     

Waist/height ratio as a better predictor of type 2 diabetes compared to body mass index in Tehranian adult men--a 3.6-year prospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether central obesity variables are more important than general obesity variables in predicting the incidence of type 2 diabetes in Iranians. METHODS: In this population-based longitudinal study, a representative sample of 1852 males aged > or = 20 years, participants of the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study, were followed for a mean duration of 3.6 years. Demographic data were collected; blood pressure and anthropometric variables such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were measured according to a standard protocol. Biochemical analyses including measurements of plasma glucose in the fasting state and 2 hours after ingestion of 75 g glucose as well as fasting serum lipids were done. Diabetes and abnormal glucose tolerance (impaired fasting glucose or impaired glucose tolerance) were defined according to ADA criteria. Logistic regression models with the stepwise conditional method were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of developing diabetes associated with each quartile of each anthropometric variable in a multivariate model adjusted for age, hypertension, smoking, family history of diabetes (model 1), and a full model adjusted for all the variables in model 1 plus abnormal glucose tolerance (model 2). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine the predictive power of each variable for development of type 2 diabetes, after adjustment for age. RESULTS: A total of 69 new cases of type 2 diabetes (3.7%) were diagnosed during 3.6 years of follow-up, with an incidence rate of approximately one percent per year. The RR of developing diabetes associated with the highest quartile of anthropometric variables, was highest for WHtR in model 1. After further adjustment for abnormal glucose tolerance (model 2) only WHtR and WC were significantly associated with type 2 diabetes. According to the ROC curve analysis, among central obesity variables only WHtR had a higher ROC curve than BMI. WHtR also continued to be the best predictive central obesity variable compared to BMI, even when the analysis was restricted to subjects with BMI < 27 kg/m2 (0.678 vs. 0.631, p < 0.05). In those with BMI > or = 27 kg/m2, none of the central obesity variables proved to be superior to BMI. CONCLUSION: Among abdominal obesity variables, WHtR appears to be stronger than BMI in identifying men with type 2 diabetes in the future.     

Waist-to-height ratio is a better screening tool than waist circumference and BMI for adult cardiometabolic risk factors: systematic review and meta-analysis

Our aim was to differentiate the screening potential of waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and waist circumference (WC) for adult cardiometabolic risk in people of different nationalities and to compare both with body mass index (BMI). We undertook a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that used receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curves for assessing the discriminatory power of anthropometric indices in distinguishing adults with hypertension, type-2 diabetes, dyslipidaemia, metabolic syndrome and general cardiovascular outcomes (CVD). Thirty one papers met the inclusion criteria. Using data on all outcomes, averaged within study group, WHtR had significantly greater discriminatory power compared with BMI. Compared with BMI, WC improved discrimination of adverse outcomes by 3% (P < 0.05) and WHtR improved discrimination by 4-5% over BMI (P < 0.01). Most importantly, statistical analysis of the within-study difference in AUC showed WHtR to be significantly better than WC for diabetes, hypertension, CVD and all outcomes (P < 0.005) in men and women. For the first time, robust statistical evidence from studies involving more than 300 000 adults in several ethnic groups, shows the superiority of WHtR over WC and BMI for detecting cardiometabolic risk factors in both sexes. Waist-to-height ratio should therefore be considered as a screening tool.     

Misclassification of high-risk older subjects using waist action levels established for young and middle-aged adults--results from the Rotterdam Study

OBJECTIVES: In the literature, cutoff points based on waist circumference (waist action levels) have been suggested to replace cutoff points based on body mass index (BMI) and waist-hip ratio (WHR) in identifying subjects who are overweight or obese and/or with central fat distribution. These cutoff points have been based on analysis in mainly middle-aged and younger adults. In this article, we examine the applicability of the suggested waist action levels in an older population. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 6,423 men and women aged 55 or over participating in the Rotterdam Study, a population-based cohort study. MEASUREMENTS: Sensitivities and specificities of the proposed waist action levels in relation to the cutoff points for BMI and WHR were calculated. Also, cardiovascular risk factor levels at baseline examination in the different categories defined by high/low waist circumference, BMI and WHR were investigated. RESULTS: At waist action level 1 (waist circumference > or =94 cm in men, > or =80 cm in women), sensitivity was 71% in men and 86% in women for detecting those with high BMI (> or =25 kg/m2) and/or WHR (> or =0.95 in men, > or =0.80 in women). At waist action level 2 (waist circumference > or =102 cm in men, > or =88 cm in women in comparison with BMI > or =30 kg/m2 and/or WHR > or =0.95 in men, > or =0.80 in women), sensitivity was considerably lower: 35% in men and 59% in women. This was mainly due to a large proportion of subjects with low waist and BMI but high WHR. Specificity was high (>90%) at both action levels. Cardiovascular disease risk factors, except smoking, tended to increase with increasing waist circumference, WHR, and BMI. CONCLUSIONS: The suggested cutoff points for waist circumference are only to a limited degree useful in identifying subjects with overweight and obesity and/or central fat distribution in an older population. This concerns especially the upper cutoff point (waist action level 2) and is mainly due to the increased central distribution of fat with advancing age.     

Association between simple anthropometric indices and cardiovascular risk factors.

OBJECTIVE: To identify which of the three simple anthropometric indices, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and waist circumference (WC), best predicts cardiovascular risk factors, and to determine if the association between the anthropometric indices and cardiovascular risk factors varies with gender. DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional population-based survey was carried out during 1995-1996. One thousand and ten Chinese people (500 men and 510 women) aged 25-74 y were recruited as subjects for the study. Metabolic profiles and anthropometric indices were measured. RESULTS: Partial correlation and co-variance analyses showed that WC exhibited the highest degree of association with almost all of the studied metabolic profiles for both men and women. We observed significant gender differences in the association between central or general obesity with cardiovascular risk factors. BMI had an independent and significant association with metabolic risks in men, but not in women, whereas WHR was more strongly correlated with metabolic risks for women than for men. Logistic regression analysis further confirmed the magnitude of the association between the obesity indices and metabolic risks. Among the studied metabolic variables, serum insulin showed the highest degree of association with the obesity indices, followed by plasma glucose, triglyceride, HDL and blood pressure. Total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol had a small but significant correlation with obesity. No threshold values in the relation between either the anthropometric indices and metabolic values, or with hypertension, diabetes and dislipidemia were observed. CONCLUSION: The association of central or general obesity and metabolic syndrome varied with gender. In addition, the useful anthropometric predictors for cardiovascular risk factors were BMI and WC for men, and WC and WHR for women.     

腰围身高比值与2型糖尿病心血管病危险因素的关系

目的探讨腰围身高比值（WHtR）用于2型糖尿病（T2DM）评估腹型肥胖及其与心血管病危险因素的关系。方法新诊断T2DM患者4ll例，测血压、血糖、血脂、身高、体重、腰围（WC）、臀围，计算BMI、WHtR及腰臀比（WHR），分析WHtR、BMI、WC及WHR与身高的关系，各肥胖指数与血压、血脂的关系。结果（1）WHtR与血压、TG及HDL-C的相关程度均大于与BMI、WC、wHR的相关程度。WHtR与高血压、高TG及低HDL-C均显著相关。结论WHtR升高与血压、血脂关系密切，可作为评估腹型肥胖及预测T2DM心血管疾病危险因素指标之一。     

腰围/身高比值与非肥胖者高血压的关系

目的:探讨腰围/身高比值(waist to height ratio,WHtR)用于对非肥胖者高血压风险的预测价值。方法:选取体质指数(BMI)<25的健康体检者,采用偏相关系数分析肥胖指数---WHtR、BMI、腰围及腰臀围比与血压的关系,Logistic回归分析控制年龄后各肥胖指数每升高1个标准差患高血压风险的比值比(OR值)及95%可信限。受试者工作特征(receiver operator characteristic,ROC)曲线分析各肥胖指数预测高血压的效能。结果:偏相关分析显示,调整年龄的影响后,各肥胖指数与血压显著相关,男、女性均以WHtR的相关系数最大。Logistic回归分析显示,WHtR预测高血压的OR值最大;ROC曲线分析显示,男、女性均以WHtR预测高血压的曲线下面积最大。结论:WHtR是有效的预测非肥胖者高血压的中心性肥胖指标。     

Associations between obesity indices and both type 2 diabetes and impaired fasting glucose among West African adults: Results from WHO STEPS surveys

Background and aimVarious obesity indices such as BMI, waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio, (WHR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) are associated with the risk of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM). Given few studies examining the strength of the association in this population, we aimed to identify which obesity indices are most strongly associated with T2DM and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) among adults from five West African countries.Methods and resultsData from 15,520 participants from the World Health Organisation (WHO) STEPs surveys in Burkina Faso, Benin, Mali, Liberia, and Ghana were included in analyses. Multinomial logistic regression was used to calculate the relative risk (RR) per standard deviation (SD) of each anthropometric measure, modelled as both continuous variables and as categorical variables based on established cut-points. In the analyses with continuous variables, the unadjusted RRs for T2DM per SD were 1.30 (1.23, 1.37) for body mass index (BMI); 1.56 (1.46, 1.67) for WC; 2.57 (2.15, 3.09) for WHtR and 1.16 (1.03, 1.31) for WHR. WHtR showed the strongest association with T2DM in all adjusted analyses. For models using categorical variables based on established cut-points, obesity defined using waist circumference (OB-WC) and OB-BMI showed the strongest associations with T2DM, and OB-WHR, the weakest association in all adjusted analyses.ConclusionWHtR and WC appear to be the indices most strongly associated with T2DM and IFG respectively. Given its simplicity, WC may be the metric that most usefully conveys risk for T2DM in West African adults.     

Obesity and its measurement in a community‐based sample of women with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objective

To determine the prevalence of obesity and evaluate how accurately standard anthropometric measures identify obesity among women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Dual x‐ray absorptiometry (DXA), height, weight, and waist and hip circumference measurements were collected from 145 women with SLE. Three anthropometric proxies of obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m², waist circumference [WC] ≥88 cm, and waist:hip ratio [WHR] ≥0.85) were compared with a DXA‐based obesity criterion. Correspondence between measures was assessed with Cohen's kappa. Receiver operating characteristic curves determined optimal cut points for each anthropometric measure relative to DXA. Framingham cardiovascular risk scores were compared among women who were classified as not obese by both traditional and revised anthropometric definitions, obese by both definitions, and obese only by the revised definition.

Results

Of the 145 women, 28%, 29%, 41%, and 50% were classified as obese by WC, BMI, WHR, and DXA, respectively. Correspondence between anthropometric and DXA‐based measures was moderate. Women misclassified by anthropometric measures had less truncal fat and more appendicular lean and fat mass. Cut points were identified for anthropometric measures to better approximate DXA estimates of percent body fat: BMI ≥26.8 kg/m², WC ≥84.75 cm, and WHR ≥0.80. Framingham risk scores were significantly higher in women classified as obese by either traditional or revised criteria.

Conclusion

A large percentage of this group of women with SLE was obese. Substantial portions of women were misclassified by anthropometric measures. Utility of revised cut points compared with traditional cut points in identifying risk of cardiovascular disease or disability remains to be examined in prospective studies, but results from the Framingham risk score analysis suggest that traditional cut points exclude a significant number of at‐risk women with SLE.     

Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged Lithuanian women in different body mass index and waist circumference groups

Background and aimsThe aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in middle-aged Lithuanian women in different body mass index and waist circumference groups.Methods and resultsData selected from the Lithuanian High Cardiovascular Risk (LitHiR) primary prevention program between 2009 and 2016. This community-based cross-sectional study comprised 53,961 women aged 50–64 years old. We compared the prevalence of arterial hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, smoking, and metabolic syndrome in different body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) groups. The most prevalent cardiometabolic risk factor was dyslipidaemia (91.71%, n = 49,488). The prevalence of arterial hypertension, dyslipidaemia, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome was greater in those with higher-than-normal BMI and WC. Smoking was the most prevalent in women with low BMI and normal WC (24.00% and 13.17% respectively).ConclusionThe analysis showed that all risk factors, except smoking, were significantly more prevalent in women with higher-than-normal BMI and with increased WC or abdominal obesity. The prevalence of dyslipidaemia was surprisingly high in all BMI and WC groups. Obesity measured by WC was more strongly associated with an adverse metabolic profile.