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Waist-Calf Circumference Ratio Is an Independent Risk Factor of HRQoL in Centenarians

Shanshan Yang1,2, Miao Liu1, Shengshu Wang1

  • 1Institute of Geriatrics, State Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease, Beijing Key Laboratory of Aging and Geriatrics, The 2nd Clinical Center, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing 100853, People's Republic of China.

Diabetes, Metabolic Syndrome and Obesity : Targets and Therapy
|February 27, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Central obesity negatively impacts the quality of life in centenarians. Higher body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and calf circumference are linked to better quality of life, while waist-calf circumference ratio (WCR) indicates increased risk.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Public Health
  • Human Physiology

Background:

  • Centenarians represent a unique population for studying aging and health.
  • Understanding factors influencing quality of life in extreme longevity is crucial for public health initiatives.
  • Central obesity is increasingly recognized as a significant health risk factor across various age groups.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the associations between various anthropometric measurements and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Hainan centenarians.
  • To determine the impact of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist-height ratio (WHtR), calf circumference, and waist-calf circumference ratio (WCR) on HRQoL.
  • To identify specific body composition indicators that predict quality of life in the oldest old.

Main Methods:

  • A comprehensive survey of 1002 centenarians in Hainan.
  • Assessment of quality of life using the EQ-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-5D-VAS).
  • Statistical analysis employing restricted cubic splines to examine linear relationships and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for risk assessment.

Main Results:

  • Significant associations were found between BMI, WC, calf circumference, WCR, and EQ-5D scores (P < 0.01), with WHR showing no significant link.
  • Increased BMI, WC, and calf circumference were associated with a decreased risk of poor quality of life (EQ-5D score <1).
  • Conversely, an elevated waist-calf circumference ratio (WCR) was significantly associated with an increased risk of poor quality of life (OR 2.70).

Conclusions:

  • Central fat distribution, indicated by unfavorable WC and WCR, negatively impacts health-related quality of life in centenarians.
  • While overall adiposity (BMI) and muscle mass indicators (calf circumference) may be protective, central obesity poses a distinct risk.
  • These findings highlight the importance of body composition, particularly fat distribution, in maintaining quality of life in advanced age.
Abstract

Keywords:
centenariansobesityquality of lifewaist–calf circumference ratio

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