title: Association between waist-to-height ratio, isolated and combined morbidities and C-reactive protein in the elderly: a clinical-epidemiological study.
abstract: The aim of this study was to analyze the association between waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the elderly (considering their most prevalent morbidities and lifestyles), to investigate the relationship between this anthropometric index and the presence of the most prevalent morbidities (isolated or combined), and to identify which morbidities (analyzed individually) would have greater associations with WHtR. This cross-sectional population-based epidemiological study of a stratified sampling comprised 170 elderly individuals between 60 and 90 years of age (both genders). Home visits were used to administer questionnaires and to perform anthropometric measurements and blood collection. The mean patient age was younger than 70 years, with women comprising the majority (69.41%) and with 90% of the patients presenting with inadequate WHtR. Hypertension was the most prevalent morbidity in this cohort (58.52%), and when analyzed in combination, hypertension plus obesity were the most frequently diagnosed morbidities (17.65%). Obesity, which was among the most prevalent comorbidities, was the only comorbidity combined with WHtR (p = 0.0019). Individuals with no morbidities had lower mean WHtR values compared with individuals with at least one morbidity (p = 0.0075). In the multiple linear regression model, it was identified that when individuals had one or more of the most prevalent comorbidities, the mean WHtR increased by 0.0415 (p = 0.0065). A correlation between WHtR and CRP (p = 0.0379) was also verified. Based on the relationships observed between WHtR (isolated or in combination, data unpublished) and CRP among the elderly, WHtR may represent a screening tool because it is a simple and effective anthropometric index.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences, Center for Health Sciences/NIESN-Interdisciplinary Studies in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Paraíba, Castelo Branco, João Pessoa, PB 58059-900, Brazil. jousianny@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Jousianny Patrício
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences, Center for Health Sciences/NIESN-Interdisciplinary Studies in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Paraíba, Castelo Branco, João Pessoa, PB 58059-900, Brazil. raquelpatriciaal@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Raquel Patrícia Ataíde
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences, Center for Health Sciences/NIESN-Interdisciplinary Studies in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Paraíba, Castelo Branco, João Pessoa, PB 58059-900, Brazil. danicarvalhop@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: de Carvalho Pereira
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Nutritional Sciences, Center for Health Sciences/NIESN-Interdisciplinary Studies in Health and Nutrition, Federal University of Paraíba, Castelo Branco, João Pessoa, PB 58059-900, Brazil. suramajpa@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Cassia Surama
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Silva
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Program in Nutrition, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB 58059-900, Brazil. raulceica@ig.com.br.
authors.forename: Maria da Conceiço Rodrigues
authors.initials: Mda C
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Program in Mother and Child Health (IMIP), Institute Mother and Child Professor Fernando Figueira, Board of Research, Boa Vista, Recife, PE 50070-550, Brazil. malaquias.imip@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Malaquias Batista
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Filho
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Program in Nutrition, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB 58059-900, Brazil. rosaliafilizola@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rosália Gouveia
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Filizola
authors.affiliation: Graduate Program in Decision Models and Health, Department of Statistics, Center of Exact and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB 58051-000, Brazil. ronei@de.ufpb.br.
authors.forename: Ronei Marcos
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: de Moraes
authors.affiliation: Department of Nutrition, Faculty of Medical Sciences, João Pessoa, João Pessoa, PB 58010-000, Brazil. luiza.asciutti@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Luiza Sonia Rios
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Asciutti
authors.affiliation: Undergraduate Program in Nutrition, Center for Health Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, João Pessoa, PB 58059-900, Brazil. mjc.costa@terra.com.br.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Carvalho Costa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D065927:Waist-Height Ratio
chemical_list: D002097:C-Reactive Protein