Waist-to-height ratio as a screening measure for identifying adolescents with hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype.

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.

Mid-upper arm circumference as a screening measure for identifying children with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Overweight and obesity, defined by BMI and waist circumference cut-off points, have long been recognized as risk factors for hypertension. Another proposed indicator of obesity in children is mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC). OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to determine whether MUAC could be used to identify hypertension in Han children aged 7-12 years. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS: In 2011, anthropometric measurements were assessed in a cross-sectional population-based study of 1352 Han children aged 7-12 years. Hypertension was defined according to the 2004 National High Blood Pressure Education Program Working Group definition. Receiver operating characteristic curve analyses were carried out to assess the accuracy of MUAC as diagnostic tests for hypertension. RESULTS: The accuracy levels of MUAC for identifying hypertension [as assessed by area under the curve (AUC)] were over 0.85 in boys (AUC: 0.894), but not in girls (AUC: 0.831), and the cut-off values were the 75th percentile for boys and girls. The sensitivities were 87.5% in boys and 70.0% in girls. The AUC of MUAC was not significantly different from the AUC of BMI and waist circumference for both boys and girls (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: The present study shows that MUAC is a simple, inexpensive, and accurate measurement for identifying hypertension in Han children. MUAC is equivalent to BMI and waist circumference as a screening test for hypertension.

Hypertriglyceridemic waist-to-height ratio phenotype: association with atherogenic lipid profile in Han adolescents.

Hypertriglyceridemic waist (HW) phenotype was associated with an atherogenic lipid profile in adolescents. But unlike adults, the cutoffs of waist circumference are age- and gender-specific standards and are less feasible for non-professional use. The present study tested the hypothesis that simple variables, such as waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and serum triacylglycerol (TG) concentrations, could be used as screening tools for the identification of adolescents characterized by atherogenic lipid profile. In 2006, anthropometric and biochemical measurements were assessed in a cross-sectional population-based study of 3136 Han adolescents, aged 13-17 years. The hypertriglyceridemic waist-to-height ratio (HWHtR) phenotype was defined as serum TG concentrations ≥1.47 mmol/L and WHtR ≥0.48 for boys and ≥0.46 for girls. Hypercholesterolemia (total cholesterol ≥5.18 mmol/L), high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C ≥3.37 mmol/L), low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C <1.03 mmol/L), and high non-HDL-C (≥3.76 mmol/L) were considered as atherogenic lipid profiles. After control for age and sex, adolescents with the HWHtR phenotype were more likely to have hypercholesterolemia (odds ratio (OR) = 7.8, 95 % confidence interval (CI) = 3.5-17.3, P < 0.001), high LDL-C (OR = 9.4, 95 % CI = 2.8-31.2, P < 0.001), low HDL-C (OR = 10.8, 95 % CI = 6.9-17.0, P < 0.001), and high non-HDL-C (OR = 22.9, 95 % CI = 10.0-52.2, P < 0.001) than those adolescents with normal WHtR and normal serum TG concentrations. CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that HWHtR phenotype is a simple marker for identifying adolescents with atherogenic lipid profile. Compared with HW phenotype, HWHtR phenotype is a non-age-dependent index with higher applicability to screen for cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents. WHAT IS KNOWN: • The hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype is represented by the simultaneous presence of elevated serum triacylglycerol and increased waist circumference. Hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype can identify adolescents with metabolic syndrome. But the cutoffs of waist circumference are age- and gender-specific standards and are less feasible for non-professional use. WHAT IS NEW: • The present study demonstrates that hypertriglyceridemic waist-to-height ratio phenotype is a simple marker for identifying adolescents with atherogenic lipid profile. Compared with hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype, hypertriglyceridemic waist-to-height ratio phenotype is a non-age-dependent index with higher applicability to screen for cardiovascular risk factors in adolescents.