title: Central obesity in elderly individuals in south-western Saudi Arabia: prevalence and associated morbidity.
abstract: Central obesity in all individuals aged 65 years and over (n = 810) in the catchment areas of three primary health care centres in Abha was determined from the waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR). The age-adjusted prevalence of central obesity was 32.4% and 43.5% based on the WC and WHR indicators respectively. WC was significantly associated with the risk of diabetes and hypertension, while WHR was significantly associated with the risk of diabetes only. These findings suggest that reducing the prevalence of central obesity in old age would decrease the risk of diabetes and hypertension. WC is a powerful independent predictor mainly of hypertension risk, while WHC is a good predictor of the risk of diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Health, High Institute of Public Health, University of Alexandria, Alexandria, Egypt. mabolfotouh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Abolfotouh
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Daffallah
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Khattab
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Abdulmoneim
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001823:Body Composition; D001824:Body Constitution; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D009017:Morbidity; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data