[Correlation of waist-to-hip circumference ratio and cardiovascular risk factors in a population of Southern Italy].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the relationship between body mass index (BMI), body fat distribution and some coronary heart disease risk factors like hyperlipidemia, hypertension and cigarette smoking.


METHODS
Cross-sectional.


METHODS
Tiriolo, a little town close to Catanzaro, of prevalent rural economy.


METHODS
Volunteers, both males and females, aged more than 30 years and living in Tiriolo.


METHODS
Body weight and height with subjects in ordinary street clothes and without shoes. Systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) by a zero-random sphygmomanometer. Total (TC) and HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) using fingerstick capillary sample technology by a Cholestech analyzer. Waist circumference (W), measured midway between the lower rib margin and the iliac crest, and hip circumference (H) measured at the widest point over the greater trocanthers. Smoking habit by questionnaire.


RESULTS
Females had higher values of SBP, DBP, BMI and HDL-C and lower of TC/HDL-C ratio and W/H ratio. Age was similar in both sexes. Females had lower prevalence of hyperlipidemia and cigarette smoking and higher prevalence of hypertension. BMI was strongly associated to blood pressure levels whereas W/H ratio was correlated to TC/HDL-C ratio.


CONCLUSIONS
BMI and W/H ratio give complementary information, useful to assess the cardiovascular risk profile. The simplicity and quickness of these measurements should lead to their large utilization both in epidemiological prevention studies and everyday clinical practice.
Gnasso
A
A
Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Clinica, Università degli Studi di Reggio Calabria, Facoltà di Medicina di Catanzaro.
Pujia
A
A
Cortese
C
C
Calindro
M C
MC
Gorgone
G
G
Irace
C
C
Mannarino
I
I
Pane
P
P
Romeo
P
P
Siclari
D
D
D000273:Adipose Tissue; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001824:Body Constitution / Q000502:physiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
Rapporto circonferenza addome/circonferenza bacino e fattori di rischio cardiovascolare in una popolazione del sud Italia.