This study examined waist-to-tallness ratio (WTR) as a marker for cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in 887 adults. The results found that both male and female WTR met or exceeded proposed cut-off points suggesting increased CVD risk, despite waist circumference being below thresholds. Males had higher BMI, blood pressure, and WTR than females. Additionally, WTR alone may not adequately predict overall CVD risk, and gender differences should be considered in primary prevention programs to reduce CVD risk.

1. WAIST-TO-TALLNESS RATIO AS A MARKER OF
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE RISK IN PRIMARY
PREVENTION.
ABCs of Health
Robert C. Lowe, MA1, Debbie Zimmerman, MBA1, and Philip Chen, MD, PhD2
1Polk County School Board, Winter Haven, Florida and 2Cognoscenti Health Institute,
Orlando, Florida.
Introduction Results
Recent research has suggested that Waist-To-Tallness Ratio (WTR) has greater There were no significant differences between males and females for AGE, SMOKE, or PA
-
specificity and sensitivity for overall-cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk than either (P > 0.05). Females were more likely to have a family history of CVD and DM (P < 0.05).
body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC). Schneider, et al. (2005) recently Both male and female WC (100.6 ± 14 cm and 86.2 ± 16 cm, respectively) was below
reported a cut-off value for WTR of 0.53 for women and 0.55 for men. current cut-points. Females had increased %BF compared to males (35.2 ± 7% vs. 27.0
± 7%). Males had greater BMI (30.2 ± 7 vs. 29.0 ± 5), SBP (131 ± 15 mmHg vs. 124 ±
17 mmHg) and DBP (83 ± 10 mmHg vs. 79 ± 10 mmHg) compared to females (all P <
0.05). Male WTR (0.57; P < 0.05) was greater than cut-point and female WTR (0.53; P =
Purpose 0.37) equaled cut point
To determine whether WTR is a useful marker of CVD risk in primary prevention. Table 1. Bivariate correlations between Waist to Height Ratio and selected variables.
Heart
Smoking Disease Diabetes Physical Systolic Diastolic Body
Age Gender History History History Activity Weight BP BP Fat BMI
Pearson
Methods Correlation 0.19** 0.14** 0.06 0.06 0.09** -0.13** 0.81** 0.37** 0.31** 0.64** 0.88**
p value 0.000 0.000 0.060 0.069 0.007 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000
subjects 887 887 885 875 862 877 887 884 881 613 872
Adults (n = 887; AGE = 46.6 ± 11yrs) completed a smoking (SMOKE), heart disease
(CVD), diabetes (DM) and physical activity (PA) survey at a wellness screening.
Height, weight, WC, systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and **Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (2-tailed)
percent body fat (%BF) were measured; BMI and WTR were calculated. Differences
between genders for CVD risk were explored by one-way ANOVA; differences between
gender cut-points and WTR were compared by one sample t-test; significance was set Conclusions
at P < 0.05..
Both males and females were at increased risk for CVD based on WTR cut-points suggested by
Schneider, et al. (2005) despite WC being below current cut-points. The greater WTR cut-point
in males was associated with increased BMI, SBP, and DBP compared to females. These results
suggest WTR alone may not adequately predict overall CVD risk in adults. In addition, it may be
For further information please contact: useful to consider gender differences when designing primary prevention interventions to
Robert Lowe, M.A., FAACVPR reduce overall risk for CVD.
robert.lowe@polk-fl.net