The Exact Indicator of Cardiovascular Disease Risk Identified

The ratio of waist circumference to a person’s height is a more accurate predictor of cardiovascular disease risk than body mass index (BMI). This conclusion was reached by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh. The findings were published in The Lancet Regional Health — Americas.

Researchers analyzed data from 2,721 adult participants in the Brazilian Longitudinal Study of Adult Health (ELSA-Brasil). At the beginning of the study, none of the participants had cardiovascular diseases. Their health was monitored for more than five years.

The results showed that higher BMI and waist circumference were initially associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. However, after adjusting for factors such as age, sex, smoking, physical activity, diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels, only the waist-to-height ratio remained an independent predictor of risk.

“When we adjusted the data for classical risk factors, only this indicator maintained statistical significance,” said lead author Tiago Bosco Mendes, MD, obesity specialist at the University of Pittsburgh.

According to the authors, the findings are especially relevant for people with a BMI below 30. This group includes individuals who are not obese but have high levels of visceral fat — the type of fat that surrounds internal organs and contributes to the calcification of coronary arteries.