Lower waist-circumference cutoff point for the assessment of cardiometabolic risk in Koreans

To determine the appropriate cutoff value of waist circumference associated with cardiometabolic risk factors in Koreans.

Clinical and laboratory data on 31,076 Korean adults (age 20-89 years, 40% women) were recorded at regular health check-ups. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to determine the cutoff values of waist circumference with respect to myocardial ischemia, hypertension, diabetes, and multiple risk factors for metabolic syndrome.

Age-adjusted odds ratios for myocardial ischemia, diabetes, hypertension, and multiple components of metabolic syndrome for one standard-deviation increase in waist circumference were 1.45, 1.37, 1.55, and 1.89 for men, and 1.28, 2.03, 1.64, and 2.08 for women, respectively. The cutoff value showing the maximum sensitivity plus specificity for detecting myocardial ischemia was 87 cm for men and 74 cm for women. The cutoff values for discrimination of hypertension, diabetes, and multiple risk factors for metabolic syndrome, were 84, 85, and 83 cm, respectively, for men, and 77, 77, and 76 cm, respectively, for women.

The waist-circumference cutoff values for cardiometabolic disease and its risk factors are lower than those recommended for Asians by the WHO. Waist-circumference cutoff for defining metabolic syndrome should be lowered in the Korean population.