title: Anthropometric parameters--predictive factors for cardio-metabolic diseases.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate comparatively the predictive power of body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC), two anthropometric parameters used in daily practice, for detecting cardio-metabolic diseases, in a rural community in north-east Romania.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 3248 persons, aged 19 or over, for whom we collected the following data: medical history, anthropometric parameters, blood pressure value and biochemical parameters.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both WC and BMI help correctly determine the presence of arterial hypertension, diabetes and dislipidemia. However, the cut-off value of each of these parameters differs for each pathology. The predictive value of WC for different cardio-metabolic diseases is maintained even at normal or borderline overweight values of BMI.
authors.affiliation: University of Medicine and Pharmacy Grigore T. Popa-Iaşi School of Medicine.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mihalache
authors.forename: Lidia Iuliana
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Graur
authors.forename: Dana Stefana
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Popescu
authors.forename: Otilia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Niţă
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Graur
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control; D011203:Poverty; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012383:Romania / Q000453:epidemiology; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D055105:Waist Circumference