Waist circumference and cardiovascular risk factors in Japanese men and women

Abstract

Aim: This research aims to examine the relationship of waist circumference with cardiovascular risk factors and to determine optimal cutoffs for waist circumference in the context of cardiovascular risk factors in a Japanese population. Methods: Study subjects were 8,275 Japanese men and women aged 50-74 years in Fukuoka City who participated in the baseline survey of a cohort study on lifestyle-related diseases. We defined high blood pressure, elevated non-HDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol, and elevated hemoglobin A1c. Odds ratios were obtained using multiple logistic regression analysis of cardiovascular risk factors in relation to waist circumference. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to determine optimal cutoffs for waist circumference in relation to the multiplicity of cardiovascular risk factors. Results: Waist circumference was strongly and positively associated with the prevalence odds ratios of each cardiovascular risk factor and multiplicity of these risk factors in both men and women. The optimal value of waist circumference predicting cardiovascular risk factors was 85 cm for both men and women. Conclusion: The findings add evidence that waist circumference is an important correlate of cardiovascular factors and lend further support to the Japanese criterion for central obesity for men, but not for women.