association between neck circumference and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome

ABSTRACT

To investigate the relationship between neck circumferences and cardiovascular risk factors in patients with acute coronary syndrome. In a cross-sectional study, 100 patients with acute coronary syndrome in Kerman hospitals were assessed by measuring their neck circumference and risk factors of cardiovascular disease. The data were analyzed by student t -test, Man-Whitney U test, chi[2] and Pearson and Spearman correlation tests. The mean of neck circumference in men with body mass index [BMI] >/= 25 kg/m[2] was 39.63 +/- 3.02 cm and for women it was 36.47 +/- 2.00 cm. The mean of neck circumference in overweight group was 42.70 +/- 2.99 cm for men and 38.66 +/- 3.28 cm for women. Neck circumference >/= 41.5 cm for men and >/= 36.5 cm for women were the best cutoff levels for determining the patients with BMI >/= 25 kg/m[2]. There were some associations between some cardiovascular disease risk factors. These risk factors were usually related to increasing weight. Because of fat accumulation in neck during weight gaining, this index can be used as a simple and easy screening way to recognize people with high weights