Waist and abdomen perimetry: evaluation of the optimal point in patients with risk factor for cardiovascular disease and in apparently healthy individuals

Abstract

Introduction: One of the criteria for stratification of cardiometabolic risk (CMR) is waist circumference (WC). However, some guidelines have used abdominal circumference (ABC). Objective: To evaluate and compare the validity of WC and ABC in the determination of CMR in apparently healthy adult individuals or with risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in both sexes. Methods: one hundred ninety three men and two hundred and twenty women (18-74 years). WC and ABC were measured and submitted to the normality test (Kolmogorov-Smirnov test) and to the homogeneity test (Levene test). The Wilcoxon test was applied, and the results presented in median and interquartile intervals were applied. Formulas were developed and the Spearman’s Correlations were applied. The Bland-Altman’s concordance Test and the percentage difference calculation of the groups were performed. The level of significance adopted was (p<0.05) and the analyses performed with the Sigma Plot Software for Windows version 11.0, copyright© 2008 System Software, Inc. Results: The groups showed significant difference for man (p=0.032) with values for WC 86.5(80-97) cm and ABC 89.5(83-101) cm. And for women showed significant difference for (p=0.001) with values for WC 79(72-88) cm and ABC 86(79.5-97) cm. Percentage differences were 9.8 for men and 46.8 for women, and the correlations of (r=0.98) and (r=0.96), respectively. The differences between the comparison of the measurements that presented divergence in the CMR classification were (p=0.001)/both sexes. The formulas were developed in the Sigma Plot Software - WC = 0.75 + 0.98 X (ABC) for men and women - WC = 2.52 + 0.89 X (ABC). Conclusion: In both sexes, anthropometric measurements showed significant differences and if ABC was adopted, almost half of the female sample would be mistakenly included in the CMR classification. Keywords: metabolic syndrome; obesity; physical exercise; lifestyle; primary health care.