Association of body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference with cardiovascular risk factors: Isfahan Healthy Heart Program

BACKGROUND: Investigating association of obesity indexes with other risk factors of cardiovascular diseases can help finding the best index in clinic for each sex. In this study, relationship of obesity based on body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio with cardiovascular disease risk factors was investigated. METHODS: Participants of the first phase of Isfahan Healthy Heart Program (IHHP) in 2000- 2001, including 12800 healthy people aged over 19 years from Isfahan, Najafabad and Arak (Iran), were studied. Anthropometric indexes and cardiovascular risk factors were collected using conventional definitions and standard questionnaires. Kappa coefficient of agreement between calculated risk factors with definition of obesity based on anthropometric indexes was calculated using SPSS software. RESULTS: Waist circumference showed the highest correlation with cardiovascular risk factors in men and women. Obesity based on BMI and waist-to-hip ratio in both sexes showed the same correlation with cardiovascular risk factors. In the correlation study matched for age, it was shown that the highest correlation was seen between waist circumference and two other indexes. Correlation coefficient over 60% showed the strongest agreement between obesity indexes and metabolic syndrome. CONCLUSION: In Iranian population, waist circumference as a simple measure with a higher agreement with cardiovascular risk factors can be used in clinical settings and epidemiological studies.