The relationship between fat distribution and some chronic diseases in 11,825 women participating in the DOM-project

The prevalence of reported chronic diseases was studied in quintiles of waist/hip ratio and Quetelet index in 11,825 women aged 40-73 presenting for mammographic screening in the DOM-project. After adjustment for age and Quetelet index, increased waist/hip ratio was found to be associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cholecystectomy and a lower prevalence of varicose veins. No associations were observed between waist/hip ratio and the prevalence of angina pectoris, gout and rheumatism. The odds ratios, adjusted for age and Quetelet index, of the highest versus the lowest quintile of waist/hip ratio were 3.4 (95% CI 1.4-8.3) for diabetes mellitus; 2.2 (95% CI 1.7-2.8) for hypertension; 2.0 (95% CI 1.2-3.4) for cholecystectomy, and 0.81 (95% CI 0.68-0.95) for varicose veins. After adjustment for waist/hip ratio and age, Quetelet index was found to be associated with an increased prevalence of hypertension, cholecystectomy and varicose veins. Quetelet index, however, was not found to be related to diabetes, gout or rheumatism. We conclude that in a representative sample of Dutch women older than 40 years, fat distribution in addition to overweight is related to important chronic diseases.