title: [Waist-to-height ratio as a coronary risk predictor among adults].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study proposes to identify the sensibility, specificity and the best cut-off point for waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) as a predictor of coronary high risk (CHR).
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was applied to a population comprised of 968 adults between 30 and 74 years of age, of which 391 (40.4%) were male. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were employed to identify the sensibility and specificity of the best cut-off point for WHtR as a predictor of CHR. The statistical significance of the area under ROC curve was also verified using a confidence interval (CI) of 95%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The total area under ROC curve between WHtR and coronary risk was 0.75, CI 95% (0.70-0.81) for men and 0.69, CI 95% (0.64-0.75) for women. For men, 0.52 was found to be the best cut-off point for predicting CHR (sensibility 68% and specificity 64%). Among women, 0.53 was the best cut-off point for discriminating CHR (sensibility 67% and specificity 58%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest that the WHtR may be employed to identify CHR and must be compared to other anthropometric indicators of obesity.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal da Bahia, Av. Luis Tarquínio Pontes 600, Centro Cep. 42.700-00, Lauro de Freitas, Bahia. pitangas@lognet.com.br
authors.forename: Francisco José Gondim
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Pitanga
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lessa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001827:Body Height; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012372:ROC Curve; D012016:Reference Values; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012737:Sex Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio / Q000379:methods*