Neck circumference and metabolic syndrome: A cross-sectional population-based study

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Cardiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Metabolic syndrome (MetS) poses a significant global health challenge.
• Identifying accessible screening tools for MetS is crucial for early intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between neck circumference and cardiometabolic risk factors.
• To determine optimal neck circumference cutoff points for diagnosing MetS in the Iranian population.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1619 participants from a health cohort in Amol, Iran.
• MetS diagnosed using modified NCEP ATP III criteria.
• Logistic regression analyzed associations; Youden index determined optimal cutoff points.

Main Results:

• MetS prevalence was 26.7%.
• Neck circumference significantly correlated with central obesity, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, impaired fasting glucose, and low HDL.
• Optimal cutoff points for MetS diagnosis were 36 cm for women and 42 cm for men.

Conclusions:

• Neck circumference is a significant predictor of MetS in the Iranian population.
• Neck circumference serves as a novel index for MetS screening and cardiometabolic risk assessment.