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Comparison of various anthropometric indices for the identification of a predictor of incident hypertension: the ARIRANG study

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 32, pages 294–300 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

We compared the predictive capability of weight, waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), body roundness index (BRI), and a body shape index (ABSI) to identify incident hypertension, and to determine whether any of these indices may be used as a better single predictor of incident hypertension. A total of 1718 participants aged 39–72 years were collected  in a longitudinal study. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate various anthropometric indices as significant predictors of hypertension. During 2.8 years of follow-up, 185 new cases of hypertension (10.8%) were reported. The BRI and ABSI were significantly higher in the participants who had developed hypertension than in those who had not (4.15 ± 1.01 vs. 3.57 ± 1.03, 0.80 ± 0.04 vs. 0.78 ± 0.05; respectively, p < 0.001). After adjusting for confounding variables, logistic regression analysis indicated that participants within the highest quartile of WC and WHtR were 4.79 and 4.51 times more likely to have hypertension than those within the lowest quartile (OR 4.79, 95% CI 2.49–9.20 vs. OR 4.51, 95% CI 2.41–8.43, respectively, p < 0.0001); in contrast, no such correlation was found for BMI, WHR, BRI, and ABSI. WC (AUC: 0.672) showed a more powerful predictive ability for hypertension (p < 0.0001) than BMI (AUC: 0.623), and an equal predictive power for hypertension as WHtR (AUC: 0.662) and BRI (AUC: 0.662) in the general population. We concluded that WC and/or WHtR but not BMI, showed superior prediction capability compared to WHR, BRI, and ABSI, for determining the incidence of hypertension in a community-based prospective study.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (2017R1D1A3B03034119). This study was supported by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2005-E71013-00, 2006-E71002-00, 2007-E71013-00, 2008-E71004-00, 2009-E71006-00, and 2010-E71003-00). This research was supported by Medical Research Center Program 2017R1A5A2015369.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Genomic Cohort, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea

    J. R. Choi & S. B. Koh

  2. Department of Preventive Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea

    S. V. Ahn & S. B. Koh

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea

    J. Y. Kim

  4. Institute of Lifestyle Medicine, Yonsei University Wonju College of Medicine, Wonju, Republic of Korea

    E. H. Choi

  5. Department of Dental Hygiene, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, Republic of Korea

    G. Y. Lee & Y. E. Jang

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  1. J. R. Choi
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Correspondence to S. B. Koh.

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Choi, J.R., Ahn, S.V., Kim, J.Y. et al. Comparison of various anthropometric indices for the identification of a predictor of incident hypertension: the ARIRANG study. J Hum Hypertens 32, 294–300 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-018-0043-4

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