Waist measure and waist-to-hip ratio and identification of clinical conditions of cardiovascular risk: multicentric study in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Abdominal obesity is associated with cardiovascular disease. This study aims to compare two measures of abdominal obesity [waist and wais-to-hip ratio (WHR)] in patients with DM2 to identify cardiovascular risk factors: ischemic cardiopathy, hypertension, dislipidemia, obesity and diabetic nephropathy. A multicentric study was performed in 820 patients with type 2 DM. Waist circumference strongly correlated with body mass index (BMI), for men (r= 0.814; P< 0.05) and women (r= 0.770; P< 0.05). On the other hand, WRH was weakly correlated (r= 0.263, P< 0.05 for men; r= 0.092, P< 0.05 for women). Only waist circumference correlated with systolic pressure (r= 0.211, P< 0.05 for men; r= 0,224, P< 0.05 for women). ROC curve analysis demonstrated the superiority of waist circumference measurement compared to WHR regarding obesity and hypertension for men and women, and dyslipidemia for men. In conclusion, waist circumference is better correlated with cardiovascular risk factor than WRH.

Abdominal obesity; Waist circumference; Waist-to-hip ratio; Type 2 diabetes mellitus