Comparing Utility of Anthropometric Indices Based on Gender Differences in Predicting Dyslipidaemia in Healthy Adults

Priyanka N Pawaskar; Arun Shirali; M Venkatraya Prabhu; Sheila R Pai; Nayanatara Arun Kumar; Niwas G Pawaskar

doi:10.7860/JCDR/2015/12440.6339

Comparing Utility of Anthropometric Indices Based on Gender Differences in Predicting Dyslipidaemia in Healthy Adults

J Clin Diagn Res. 2015 Aug;9(8):CC01-4. doi: 10.7860/JCDR/2015/12440.6339. Epub 2015 Aug 1.

Authors

Priyanka N Pawaskar¹, Arun Shirali², M Venkatraya Prabhu³, Sheila R Pai⁴, Nayanatara Arun Kumar⁵, Niwas G Pawaskar⁶

Affiliations

¹ Assistant Professor, Department of Physiology, Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences , Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, India .
² Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University , Karnataka, India .
³ Professor and Dean, Department of Medicine, Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, Manipal University , Karnataka, India .
⁴ Associate Professor, Department of Physiology, Center for Basic Sciences, Kasturba Medical College , Bejai, Mangalore, Manipal University, Karnataka, India .
⁵ Professor and Head, Department of Physiology, Center for Basic Sciences, Kasturba Medical College , Bejai, Mangalore, Manipal University, Karnataka, India .
⁶ General Physician, Shri Gajanan Clinic Kolhapur , Maharashtra, India.

Abstract

Introduction: Anthropometry is a simple reliable method for quantifying body proportions by measuring body length, weight and circumferences.

Aim: Our intention in this study was to compare sensitivities and positive predictive values of waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist-height ratio (WHtR) and body mass index (BMI) in identifying healthy subjects, males and females separately for identifying obesity associated dyslipidemia.

Materials and methods: We analysed randomly selected 100 healthy subjects (males:58%, females:42%) between 25 and 60 years of age attending tertiary health care center in South India, after obtaining informed consent and Institutional Ethical Clearance. WC, WHR, WHtR and BMI of all the enrolled subjects were measured and estimated. Their fasting serum lipid profile was assessed. Subjects were divided based on their gender and each group was then categorized as obese and non-obese using anthropometric parameters and their individual serum lipid profile values depending on the cut off standards as per WHO and ATP III guidelines and compared. Data obtained was statistically analysed.

Results: Mean values of WC, WHR, WHtR and BMI were highly significant (p<0.000) in obese in both males (97.43 ± 6.21cm, 0.96 ± 0.04, 0.61 ± 0.05, 27.72 ± 2.45kg/m(2)) and females (91.82 ± 5.18cm, 0.92 ± 0.06, 0.60 ± 0.04, 27.70 ± 3.44kg/m(2)) when considered separately compared to non-obese males (82.27 ± 5.33cm, 0.83 ± 0.033, 0.51 ± 0.03, 22.80 ± 2.11kg/m(2)) and females (71.68 ± 7.33cm, 0.78 ± 0.03, 0.48 ± 0.03, 21.82 ± 1.98kg/m(2) respectively). WC was more sensitive for predicting the altered lipid profile (85%) in females and WHR (65%) in males. WHR showed higher ability to correctly predict the occurrence of dyslipidemia in the obese males (90% positive predictive value) and WHtR in females (92%).

Conclusion: The present study inferred that WC, WHR are more sensitive while WHR and WHtR have a higher positive predictive value than BMI in identifying dyslipidemia in healthy males and females.

Keywords: Body mass index; Gender differences; Lipid profile; Waist circumference; Waist–height ratio; Waist–hip ratio.