title: Waist-to-thigh ratio is a predictor of internal organ cancers in humans: findings from a cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Studies have shown that some specific body measures are associated with the occurrence of cancers. Few studies have demonstrated the relationship with more comprehensive approaches. This study aims to explore body measures and the combinations associated with internal organ cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three-dimensional anthropometric body surface scanning data collected 10,215 participants from the health examination department in a medical center of Taiwan during 2000-2010. Follow-up was conducted for an average of 8 years, and 244 internal organ cancer cases were identified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An increased risk of internal organ cancers was observed among the subjects with larger waist circumference/smaller thigh circumference, in which waist-to-thigh ratio (WTR) was constructed. Comparing the subjects in the fourth quartile for WTR to the subjects in the first quartile with multiple Cox regression analysis yielded a hazard ratio of 1.842 (95% confidence interval, 1.131~2.999). The association between WTR quartile and internal organ cancers was stronger among male participants, older participants, and participants with chronic conditions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study has revealed that WTR is the most significant predictor for the occurrence of cancer in Asian populations. Because it is easy to measure and open to modification, WTR may be more useful in clinical and preventive medicine in the future.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Epidemiology, Department of Health Care Management, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan. khsu@mail.cgu.edu.tw
authors.forename: Kuang-Hung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chia-Pang
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.forename: Pei-Ju
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Liao
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry / Q000379:methods; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013624:Taiwan; D013848:Thigh / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D055105:Waist Circumference; D055815:Young Adult