Effect of Age on the Association Between Waist-to-Height Ratio and Incidence of Cardiovascular Disease: The Suita Study

Yukako Tatsumi,Tomonori Okamura,Yoshihiro Kokubo,Makoto Watanabe,Yoshihiro Miyamoto,Aya Higashiyama,Kunihiro Nishimura,Akira Okayama

doi:10.2188/jea.je20130004

Abstract

BackgroundWaist-to-height ratio (WHtR) has been shown to be a useful screening tool for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease (CVD). We investigated the association of WHtR with CVD incidence by age group.MethodsWe conducted a 13.0-year cohort study of Japanese adults (2600 men and 2888 women) with no history of CVD. WHtR was calculated as waist circumference (cm) (WC) divided by height (cm). We stratified participants by sex and age group (30–49, 50–69, ≥70 years). Using the Cox proportional hazards model, we calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for CVD in relation to WHtR quartile for participants aged 50 to 69 years and 70 years or older.ResultsMen aged 50 to 69 years in the highest quartile had significantly increased risks of CVD and coronary heart disease as compared with the lowest quartile; the HRs (95% CI) were 1.82 (1.13–2.92) and 2.42 (1.15–5.12), respectively. Women aged 50 to 69 years in the highest quartile had a significantly increased risk of stroke (HR, 2.43; 95% CI, 1.01–5.85). No significant results were observed in men or women aged 70 years or older. The likelihood ratio test showed that the predictive value of WHtR was greater than that of WC among men aged 50 to 69 years.ConclusionsThe association between WHtR and CVD risk differed among age groups. WHtR was useful in identifying middle-aged Japanese at higher risk of CVD and was a better predictor than WC of CVD, especially in men.

Highlights

Obesity and central obesity are closely tied to metabolic risks.[1,2] Waist circumference (WC) is an index of central obesity[3] and is an important component in the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome.[4]
Our main findings were that Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was significantly positively associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and coronary heart disease (CHD) risk among men aged 50 to 69 years and with stroke risk among women aged 50 to 69 years
There was a significant interaction between age and WHtR for CVD incidence

Summary

Introduction

Obesity and central obesity are closely tied to metabolic risks.[1,2] Waist circumference (WC) is an index of central obesity[3] and is an important component in the diagnostic criteria for metabolic syndrome.[4] Several meta-analyses have reported an association of WC with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality.[5,6] Recently, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) was shown to be a useful global clinical screening tool for cardiometabolic risk and CVD.[7,8]. Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) has been shown to be a useful screening tool for metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Using the Cox proportional hazards model, we calculated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for CVD in relation to WHtR quartile for participants aged 50 to years and years or older. Results: Men aged 50 to 69 years in the highest quartile had significantly increased risks of CVD and coronary heart disease as compared with the lowest quartile; the HRs (95% CI) were 1.82 (1.13–2.92) and 2.42 (1.15–5.12), respectively. WHtR was useful in identifying middle-aged Japanese at higher risk of CVD and was a better predictor than WC of CVD, especially in men

Methods

Results

Conclusion