The usefulness of wrist/height ratio as a predictor for the risk factors of coronary artery disease

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The waist/hip ratio in an useful index of abodominal obesity, but it includes two variables which may result in a false interpretation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of waist/height ratio as a predictor for the risk factors of coronary artery disease(CAD). METHODS: 1,395 persons(818 men & 577 women) were selected as subjects who visited the Health Examination Center at Ewha Mokdong Hospital from October 1998 to March 1997. Waist circumference was measured at the level of umblicus with standing position. Hip circumference was measured at the level of the largest circumference of the hip. We set the criteria if the risk factors as hypertension(systolic BP > OR = 140mmHg and/or diastolic BP > OR = 90mmHg), glucose intolence (fastng blood glucose > OR = 115mg/dl) hypertriglyceridemia(>160mg/dl), hypercholesterolemia(> OR = 200mg/dl), and low HDL-cholesterol level(<35mg/dl). The morbidity index of CAD was calculated by the sim if the risk factor scores(one point per item if present). RESULTS: There was significant correlation between waist/height ratio, waist/hip ratio and body mass index(BMI)(p=0.0001). BMI had more strong correlation with waist/height ratio(r=0.81) than waist/hip ratio(r=0.48). According to the simple regression analysis, BMI, waist/hip ratio and waist/height ratio had significant correlation with all of the risk factors and the morbidity index, According to the multiple regression analysis, waist/height ratio had significant correlation with age, weight, height, systolic BP, triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. The risk factor morbidity index of the groups with waist/height ratio over 0.45 was significantly more higher than the group of the lowest risk factor morbidity index(waist/height ratio under 0.4) in men(p=0.01). for women, 0.46 was the level which the risk factor morbidity index increased significantly (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Waist/height ratio can be a useful index of abdominal obesity. And it may be used as a more easier and better predictor of multiple CAD risk factors than waist/hip ratio. We can predict that waist/height ratio over 0.45 in men and over 0.46 in women may have more higher coronary artery disease risk.