Waist-to-height ratio may be an alternative tool to the body mass index for identifying Colombian adolescents with cardiometabolic risk factors

Abstract

ABSTRACT: there is limited information about the usefulness of the waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to identify Colombian adolescents with cardiometabolic risk factors (CRF). Objective: to compare the utility of WHtR, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC) to identify adolescents with CRF. Methods: a study with 346 youths (aged 14.0 ± 2.3 years) was performed. Anthropometric measurements were collected and BMI, WC and WHtR were calculated. Fasting blood lipids, glucose and insulin were measured; the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was computed. The presence of multiple non-WC metabolic syndrome (MetS) factors (high HOMA-IR, high triglycerides and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol [HDL-C]) was analyzed. The area under the curve (AUC) and the odds ratios (OR) were calculated. Results: the BMI, WC and WHtR were comparable at identifying adolescents with high HOMA-IR (AUC = 0.686, 0.694 and 0.641, respectively), low HDL-C (AUC = 0.623, 0.652 and 0.572, respectively) and multiple non-WC MetS factors (AUC = 0.694, 0.715 and 0.688, respectively). The OR of having multiple non-WC MetS factors was similar in overweight adolescents (1.65, 95% CI: 0.86-3.14) and those with WHtR ≥ 0.50 (3.76, 95% CI: 1.95-7.3). There were no OR differences of having multiple non-WC MetS factors among adolescent with obesity (9.88, 95% CI: 3.1-31.7), WC ≥ P90 (18.3, 95% CI: 4.0-83.5) and WHtR ≥ 0.55 (11.0, 95% CI: 3.0-4.4). Conclusions: WHtR, BMI and WC have similar capacities to identify Colombian adolescents with CRF. WHtR showed to be an alternative tool to BMI and WC measurements when screening adolescents for cardiometabolic risk.

RESUMEN: hay información limitada sobre la utilidad de la relación cintura-estatura (rCE) para identificar adolescentes colombianos con factores de riesgo cardiometabólicos (FRC). Objetivo: comparar la utilidad de la rCE, el índice de masa corporal (IMC) y la circunferencia de cintura (CC) para identificar adolescentes con FRC. Metodología: se evaluaron 346 jóvenes (14,0 ± 2,3 años). Se obtuvieron medidas antropométricas, IMC, CC, rCE, glucosa, insulina y lípidos sanguíneos en ayunas e índice HOMA-IR. Se analizó la presencia de múltiples factores del síndrome metabólico (MetS) diferentes a la CC (HOMA-IR alto, triglicéridos aumentados, concentración del colesterol de alta densidad [HDL-C] baja). Se calculó el área bajo la curva (AUC) y razón de ventajas (OR). Resultados: el IMC, CC y rCE fueron similares para identificar adolescentes con alto HOMA-IR (AUC = 0,686, 0,694 y 0,641, respectivamente), bajo HDL-C (AUC = 0,623, 0,652 y 0,572, respectivamente) y múltiples factores del MetS diferentes a la CC (AUC = 0,694, 0,715 y 0,688, respectivamente). La OR de tener esta última condición fue similar en adolescentes con sobrepeso (1,65, IC 95%: 0,60-3,14) y aquellos con rCE ≥ 0,50 (3,76, IC 95%: 1,95-7,3). La presencia de múltiples factores del MetS diferentes a la CC en adolescentes con obesidad (9,88, IC 95%: 3,1-31,7), CC ≥ P90 (18,3, IC 95%: 4,0-83,5) y rCE ≥ 0,55 (11,0, IC 95%: 3,0 a 4,4) fue similar. Conclusión: rCE, IMC y CC tienen capacidades similares para identificar adolescentes colombianos con FRC. El rCE demostró ser una herramienta alternativa al IMC y la CC cuando se tamizan adolescentes para identificar la presencia de FRC.