title: Waist-to-hip ratio is better at predicting subclinical atherosclerosis than body mass index and waist circumference in postmenopausal women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Body fat distribution becomes more central after menopause. Although some studies have identified the superiority of various anthropometric indices to assess general health outcomes, very limited studies have compared the efficacy of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) to predict subclinical atherosclerosis according to menopausal status.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 442 participants (209 premenopausal women and 233 postmenopausal women) were prospectively enrolled from the Health Promotion Center of Korea University Guro Hospital. We examined subclinical atherosclerosis using carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In premenopausal women, all anthropometric parameters such as BMI, WC and WHR were positively correlated with baPWV and CIMT values, whereas in postmenopausal women, only WHR was positively correlated with baPWV values (0.27, P<0.01), and WC and WHR were positively correlated with CIMT (0.15, P<0.05 and 0.21, P<0.01, respectively). By receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses, WHR was superior to the other anthropometric indices to predict carotid atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women. Furthermore, the normal weight (BMI<23kg/m(2)) with higher WHR group had a significantly thicker CIMT when compared to the normal weight with lower WHR group (0.76mm vs. 0.68mm, P<0.01) and even the overweight subjects with BMI≥23kg/m(2) (0.76mm vs. 0.70mm, P<0.01) in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present study shows that WHR has the best potential for predicting subclinical atherosclerosis compared to BMI and WC in postmenopausal women.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  NCT01594710.
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Hyun Jung
authors: HJ
authors: Lee
authors: Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Soon Young
authors: SY
authors: Hwang
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ho Cheol
authors: HC
authors: Hong
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ja Young
authors: JY
authors: Ryu
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Ji A
authors: JA
authors: Seo
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sin Gon
authors: SG
authors: Kim
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Nan Hee
authors: NH
authors: Kim
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Dong Seop
authors: DS
authors: Choi
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Sei Hyun
authors: SH
authors: Baik
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
authors: Kyung Mook
authors: KM
authors: Choi
authors: Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: deisy21@naver.com.
authors: Hye Jin
authors: HJ
authors: Yoo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D015992:Body Mass Index; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012372:ROC Curve; D056910:Republic of Korea; D055105:Waist Circumference; D049629:Waist-Hip Ratio; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Anthropometric index; Menopause; Subclinical Atherosclerosis