Effectiveness of Waist Circumference in Assessing the Health Risk by Evaluating the Cardio Metabolic Risk Factors.

Corresponding Author:
Dr. Vinnakota Sindhura,
Flat No. 102, ELRS Residency,
Krishna Nagar, Maharani Peta,
Visakhapatnam-530002,
Andhra Pradesh, India.
E-mail: drsindhura.vinnakota@gmail.com

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Obesity is an important risk factor for cardio metabolic diseases like Diabetes, Hypertension, Dyslipidaemia and Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). Several organizations like WHO, National Institutes of Health tried to classify Obesity on basis of weight using BMI. Several epidemiological studies revealed direct correlation between BMI and the risk of medical complications and mortality rate. Body fat distribution is also an important risk factor for obesity-related diseases. Excess abdominal fat also known as central or upper body fat is associated with increased risk of cardio metabolic disease. Janssen et al reported that increased visceral fat, as measured by MRI correlated well with Waist circumference (WC) than with body mass index (BMI). Zhu et al using the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data reported that WC is more closely linked to cardiovascular disease risk factors than BMI. We aimed to determine the effectiveness of waist circumference (WC) in assessment of Health Risk by evaluating the cardio metabolic risk factors.

METHODS

The sample included 238 middle aged factory employees attending the hospital for periodical check-up. This is a cross-sectional hospital-based study. Blood samples are collected in fasting for Triglycerides, LDL, HDL and HbA1c estimation, BP and waist circumference measured. Chi-square is applied to test the goodness of fit to verify the distribution of observed data with assumed theoretical and expected frequencies. Null hypotheses tested with Chi-square.

RESULTS

47.8% subjects of >100 cms waist circumference group documented >400 mg% Triglyceride levels against 21.8% subjects in ≤90 cms waist circumference group. 50% subjects of >100 cms waist circumference group documented >130 mg% LDL levels against 21.8% subjects in ≤90 cms waist circumference group. 45.7% subjects of >100 cms waist circumference group documented <40 mg% HDL levels against 19.1% subjects in ≤90 cms waist circumference group. 43.5% subjects of >100 cms waist circumference group documented >6.5% HbA1c levels against 9.1% subjects in ≤90 cms waist circumference group. Only 10% subjects had normal BP in the group of >100 cms waist circumference against 80% subjects in the low Waist Circumference group (<90 cms). Waist Circumference is well correlated with Triglycerides, LDL, HbA1c and BP readings but inversely correlated with HDL.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing levels of Waist circumference correlate with several biomarkers of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

KEY WORDS         

Waist Circumference, Triglycerides, Low Density Lipoproteins, High Density Lipoproteins, Glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c)