Anthropometric indices related to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in older adults

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify anthropometric indices that are associated with cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in older adults from Florianópolis. Waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHTR), and body-mass index (BMI) were evaluated in 867 older adults, 435 men and 432 women. Logistic regression, descriptive analyzes and chi-square test were performed. After adjustment for all variables and age, diabetes mellitus was found to be associated with inadequate WHR (CI: 1.85-10.09, OR: 4.32), WHTR (CI: 2.53-19.37, OR: 7.00) and WC (CI: 1.14-2.56, OR: 1.7). Arterial hypertension was associated with inadequate WHTR (CI: 1.25-2.9, OR: 1.9) and WC (CI: 1.48-2.67, OR: 2.00). No association was observed between BMI and cardiovascular or metabolic disease. The present results suggest that WHTR and WC should be preferred for the evaluation of nutritional status in older adults.