Optimal waist circumference for Chinese adults for predicting hypertension and metabolic syndrome

Abstract

Objectives To determine the optimal waist circumference (WC) for detecting hypertension and metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods Cross-sectional data of 41,087 adults (19,567 male, 21,520 female) from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey were examined. Hypertension was defined as SBP≥130 mmHg and/or DBP≥85 mmHg; MS was defined as having two or more of the next four: hypertension, raised TG (≥1.7 mmol/L), reduced HDL (<1.03 mmol/L in males and <1.29 mmol/L in females), fasting plasma glucose≥5.6 mmol/L). Receive-operating characteristic analysis (ROC) was employed to derive optimal WC cut off points for predicting hypertension and MS. Results The prevalence of hypertension and MS increased along with the increment of WC in both male and female. The proportion of hypertension was 20.2%, 22.5%, 26.5%, 30.9%, 37.2%, 44.4%, 52.7%, 56.5% and 70.1% for male, and 13.7%, 16.6%, 21.2%, 29.7%, 38.7%, 46.3%, 53.6%, 58.3% and 70.1% for female, while the WC was less than 65, 65-, 70-, 75-, 80-, 85-, 90-, 95- and ≥100 cm, respectively. The prevalence of MS was 4.0%, 5.6%, 7.4%, 11.9%, 18.9%, 27.8%, 37.7%, 42.5% and 58.3% among males and 8.1%, 9.9%, 15.0%, 23.0%, 33.1%, 40.6%, 47.0%, 52.8% and 64.1% among females with above WC, respectively. The odds ratio of hypertension increased doubly from WC equal or above 80 cm in male and 75 cm in female. A remarkable increment of the odds ratio of MS occurred when WC was 75 cm in both male and female. The closest point to the upper left corner of the ROC curve for predicting hypertension was 80 cm for male and 75 cm for female. In both male and female, the optimal WC to predict MS is 75 cm. Conclusions These national cross-sectional data support the lower WC cut off points for the screening of hypertension and metabolic syndrome among Chinese adults. Objectives To determine the optimal waist circumference (WC) for detecting hypertension and metabolic syndrome (MS). Methods Cross-sectional data of 41,087 adults (19,567 male, 21,520 female) from the 2002 China National Nutrition and Health Survey were examined. Hypertension was defined as SBP≥130 mmHg and/or DBP≥85 mmHg; MS was defined as having two or more of the next four: hypertension, raised TG (≥1.7 mmol/L), reduced HDL (<1.03 mmol/L in males and <1.29 mmol/L in females), fasting plasma glucose≥5.6 mmol/L). Receive-operating characteristic analysis (ROC) was employed to derive optimal WC cut off points for predicting hypertension and MS. Results The prevalence of hypertension and MS increased along with the increment of WC in both male and female. The proportion of hypertension was 20.2%, 22.5%, 26.5%, 30.9%, 37.2%, 44.4%, 52.7%, 56.5% and 70.1% for male, and 13.7%, 16.6%, 21.2%, 29.7%, 38.7%, 46.3%, 53.6%, 58.3% and 70.1% for female, while the WC was less than 65, 65-, 70-, 75-, 80-, 85-, 90-, 95- and ≥100 cm, respectively. The prevalence of MS was 4.0%, 5.6%, 7.4%, 11.9%, 18.9%, 27.8%, 37.7%, 42.5% and 58.3% among males and 8.1%, 9.9%, 15.0%, 23.0%, 33.1%, 40.6%, 47.0%, 52.8% and 64.1% among females with above WC, respectively. The odds ratio of hypertension increased doubly from WC equal or above 80 cm in male and 75 cm in female. A remarkable increment of the odds ratio of MS occurred when WC was 75 cm in both male and female. The closest point to the upper left corner of the ROC curve for predicting hypertension was 80 cm for male and 75 cm for female. In both male and female, the optimal WC to predict MS is 75 cm. Conclusions These national cross-sectional data support the lower WC cut off points for the screening of hypertension and metabolic syndrome among Chinese adults.