Waist to stature ratio is more strongly associated with cardiovascular risk factors than other simple anthropometric indices.
OBJECTIVE
To determine which is the best anthropometric index among body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist to stature ratio (WSR) in relation to cardiovascular risk factors.


METHODS
A representative sample of 2895 Hong Kong Chinese aged 25 to 74 years received medical examinations in 1995 and 1996. Anthropometric indices and cardiovascular risk factors in blood were measured, and partial correlation and Receiver Operator Characteristic (ROC) curves were used in analysis.


RESULTS
Among 11 cardiovascular risk factors in partial correlation analysis, including ties WSR had the highest r in 6 in men, and 5 in women; followed by WC with 4 in men and 6 in women. In ROC analyses of 21 risk factors and health conditions, the area under curve (AUC) of WSR was the largest for most (13 of 21) factors in men and 10 in women; followed by WHR with 14 in women but only 5 in men. The optimal WSR cutoff value was 0.48 for both men and women.


CONCLUSIONS
WSR is the best simple anthropometric index in predicting a wide range of cardiovascular risk factors and related health conditions. A simple message that one's waist circumference should not exceed half the stature is recommended for the public.
Ho
Sai-Yin
SY
Department of Community Medicine, Clinical Biochemistry Unit, University of Hong Kong Medical Centre, Pokfulam, Hong Kong.
Lam
Tai-Hing
TH
Janus
Edward D
ED
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors