Open AccessWaist Circumference, Body Mass Index, and Their Association With Cardiometabolic and Global Risk
Author(s) -
Christian Allison H.,
Mochari Heidi,
Mosca Lori J.
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of the cardiometabolic syndrome
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1559-4572
pISSN - 1559-4564
DOI - 10.1111/j.1559-4572.2008.00029.x
Subject(s) - medicine , body mass index , waist , obesity , endocrinology , blood pressure , metabolic syndrome , framingham risk score , disease
Total body fat and adipose tissue distribution are associated with cardiometabolic risk, yet there are conflicting data as to whether waist circumference (WC) or body mass index (BMI) is a better predictor of cardiovascular risk. To determine whether WC or BMI was more strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk, family members of patients with cardiac disease were studied ( N =501; mean age, 48 years; 66% female; 36% nonwhite). Height, weight, WC, BMI, blood pressure, high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose, high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein, and lipoprotein‐associated phospholipase A 2 were systematically measured. Global risk was calculated using the Framingham function. Increased WC and BMI were equally strong predictors of cardiometabolic and global risk. The prevalence of cardiometabolic risk factors and their correlation with WC and BMI varied by race/ethnicity. Our data support inclusion of WC and BMI in screening guidelines for diverse populations to identify individuals at increased cardiometabolic risk.