title: Waist-to-height ratio as a screening measure for identifying adolescents with hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and the hypertriglyceridemic waist (HTGW) phenotype to test the hypothesis that WHtR can identify adolescents at high risk of the HTGW phenotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2006, anthropometric measurements were assessed in a cross-sectional population-based study of 3136 Han adolescents aged 13-17 years. Blood samples were collected to measure triacylglycerol concentrations. WHtR was calculated by waist circumference/height. The HTGW phenotype was represented by the simultaneous presence of elevated serum triglycerides and increased waist circumference. The ability of WHtR to accurately define the HTGW phenotype was assessed by area under the curve (AUC).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of the HTGW phenotype was 3.3% (boys 3.6% vs. girls 2.9%, χ2=1.424, p=0.233). The prevalence of the HTGW phenotype increased with WHtR (p<0.001). The accuracy of WHtR in the identification of the HTGW phenotype (as assessed by AUC) was over 0.85, both in boys and girls (AUC: 0.956 in boys and 0.961 in girls). WHtR cutoff values, chosen to maximize sensitivity plus specificity, for the HTGW phenotype were calculated to be 0.48 in boys and 0.46 in girls. The sensitivities were 98.3% in boys and 97.7% in girls. The specificities were 88.0% in boys and 86.8% in girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  WHtR is simpler than the HTGW phenotype and does not require blood tests. The prevalence of the HTGW phenotype increased with WHtR. Higher WHtR can identify adolescents with high risk of the HTGW phenotype.
authors.forename: Xiao-li
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Fu-zai
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Chun-peng
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Guo-qin
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Chun-ming
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015228:Hypertriglyceridemia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D064250:Hypertriglyceridemic Waist / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D012306:Risk; D055105:Waist Circumference / Q000502:physiology*; D065927:Waist-Height Ratio