Using waist-to-height ratio is more effective at predicting an individual’s heart disease risk than body mass index (BMI), latest research has underscored.
A new study from UPMC and the University of Pittsburgh has found that waist-to-height ratio is the most reliable predictor of heart disease.
Throughout the trial, the team of researchers examined the health data of 2,721 adults who had participated in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health.
All of the participants were followed for five years and had no signs of cardiovascular disease at the start of the study.
Senior author Dr Thiago Bosco Mendes said: “Higher BMI, waist circumference and waist-to-height ratio at baseline were all associated with higher risk of developing future cardiovascular disease – until we adjusted for other classic risk factors, such as age, sex, smoking, exercise, diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol. When we did that, only waist-to-height ratio held as a predictor.”
Fat distribution is not properly accounted for in a BMI measurement as it does not distinguish between visceral fat and subcutaneous fat.
Meanwhile, waist-to-height ratio directly reflects central obesity, which is associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
According to the research, those with a BMI lower than 30 but a waist-to-height ratio over 0.5 are at greater risk of developing coronary artery calcification in the future – the buildup of calcium in the walls of the coronary arteries.
Fellow author Dr Marcio Bittencourt said: “Using waist-to-height ratio as a cardiovascular screening tool could lead to earlier identification and intervention for at-risk patients who might otherwise be missed.
“It’s a simple and powerful way to spot heart disease risk early, even if a patient’s weight, cholesterol and blood pressure all seem normal.”
Read more in The Lancet Regional Health Americas.
