title: Waist-to-height ratio, waist circumference, and body mass index as indices of cardiometabolic risk among 36,642 Taiwanese adults.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the association of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) with cardiometabolic risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional study, 21,038 men and 15,604 women who participated in a health check-up were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In both men and women, the area under the curve (AUC) of WHtR was significantly greater than that of BMI or WC in the prediction of diabetes, hypertension, high total cholesterol, high triglycerides, and low HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.05 for all). The AUC for WHtR in the prediction of metabolic syndrome (MS) was also highest in the women (P < 0.05). After adjustment for potential confounders, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for MS for each standard deviation increase in BMI, WHtR, and WC were 1.47 (1.46-1.49), 1.32 (1.31-1.33), and 1.19 (1.18-1.19), respectively. Finally, patients of either sex with a normal BMI or WC level, but with an elevated WHtR, had higher levels of various cardiometabolic risk factors in comparison with their normal BMI or WC, but low WHtR, counterparts (P < 0.05 for all).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Among Taiwanese adults, a WHtR greater than 0.5 is a simple, yet effective indicator of centralized obesity and associated cardiometabolic risk, even among individuals deemed 'healthy' according to BMI and WC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupation Medicine, Chang-Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Branch, No. 222, Maijin Rd., Keelung, 200, Taiwan. 620313@adm.cgmh.org.tw
authors.forename: Wen-Cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: I-Chuan
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yu-Che
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Song-Seng
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Loke
authors.forename: Shih-Hao
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Kuang-Yu
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Hsiao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D019540:Area Under Curve; D044466:Asian People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D001827:Body Height; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001835:Body Weight; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D055105:Waist Circumference