[Correlation between anthropometric parameters and arteriosclerosis biomarker in the middle-aged and the elderly]

To investigate the correlation between anthropometric indices and arteriosclerosis detection indicators in the middle-aged and the elderly.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was made of 1 626 individuals (diabetics patients 23.37%, hypertensive subjects 39.48% and healthy individuals 37.15%), aged 45 to 90 years [mean age: (61.60 ± 10.22) years)] in Shijingshan District, Beijing. Their measurements: body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist to height ratio (WHtR). Arterial stiffness was assessed according to brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), intima-media thickness (IMT), augmentation index (AI) and ankle-brachial index (ABI), which were measured by noninvasive detectors and equipment. The correlations between the various indicators were analyzed.

The percentages of the hypertensive and diabetic groups of central obesity (male WC>85 cm, female WC>80 cm or WHtR>0.5) and of general obesity (BMI>28 kg/m²) were significantly higher than those of the healthy group (P<0.01). The difference between the two disease groups was not significant (P>0.05). There was a moderate positive correlation between the measures of abdominal obesity (WHtR and WC) and the general obesity indicators (BMI) (r=0.710 and 0.716). In the healthy group, WC and WHtR showed positive correlation with baPWV, IMT and ABI, and negative correlation with AI75. BMI showed positive correlation with IMT and negative correlation with AI75, and no correlation with baPWV and ABI. There was negative correlation between BMI and baPWV in the diabetic group. In the hypertension group, we found negative correlation between BMI and baPWV, maximum IMT, AI75, and also between WC and AI75. The simple regression straight line of baPWV versus the anthropometric parameters showed that the regression equations were y=0.949+1.379 x (baPWV vs. WHtR, R² = 0.046, P<0.001) and y=1.133+0.006x (baPWV vs. WC, R² = 0.027, P<0.001), respectively. baPWV and BMI did not have a linear relationship (P=0.62).

WHtR and WC are superior to BMI indices in predicting arteriosclerosis. Anthropometric measurements for central obesity are good predictors of cardiovascular risk.