Determination of the leading central obesity index among cardiovascular risk factors in Iranian women.
BACKGROUND
It is unknown whether the waist circumference (WC) or the waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) is a better predictor of cardiovascular risk factors at different ages.


OBJECTIVE
To compare WC and WHR as predictors of cardiovascular risk factors and to determine the prevalence of some cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese adult women at different ages.


METHODS
In this clinical cross-sectional study, 714 overweight and obese women aged 20 to 70 years who were referred to two nutrition clinics in Sistan and Baluchestan province, Islamic Republic of Iran, were studied. The subjects were classified into three groups, 20 to < 35, 35 to < 50, and > or = 50 years of age. Anthropometric indices were measured according to the standard protocol. Total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and TC/HDL-C ratios were enzymatically determined.


RESULTS
Older subjects (> or = 50 years old) had significantly higher values of body mass index (BMI), WC, TC, TG, and LDL-C than those in the two younger age classes. The prevalence rates of obesity, high WC, high WHR, high TC, high TG, high LDL-C, and high TC/ HDL-C ratios were higher in the older subjects. After adjustment for age and BMI, multiple linear regression showed that WC was significantly related to TC and TG in the 20- to < 35-year-old group and to TG in the 35- to < 50-year-old group. In the older participants, WHR was significantly related to TG.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors increases with age. In clinical practice, WC is a better index for predicting some cardiovascular risk factors in younger and middle-aged women; however, for older women, WHR is better.
Research Center for Children and Adolescents' Health, Faculty of Medicine, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Islamic Republic of Iran.
Touran
T
Shahraki
Mansour
M
Shahraki
Masoud
M
Roudbari
Bahram Pourghassem
BP
Gargari
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D016014:Linear Models; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio
D008055:Lipids