Abstract:
Background Waist-to-height ratio is a newly recommended alternative for waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio(WHR) in the assessment of abdominal obesity index. Objective To investigate the relationship between waist-to-height ratio,an indicator that can be measured and has been recommended reflecting abdominal obesity,and the traditional cardiovascular risk factors in patients with essential hypertension. Methods A total of 606 untreated primary hypertensive patients were consecutively recruited. They were divided into group A and group B according to previous study recommended cut points. In group A (WHR<0.5) had 254 subjects,and in group B (WHR≥0.5) 352 subjects. Results Comparing to group A,the subjects in group B had significantly longer history of hypertension,higher WC,body mass index (BMI),arm circumference,office diastolic blood pressure,mean arterial pressure (MAP),serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT),fasting blood glucose,uric acid (UA),triglyceride (TG),total cholesterol/high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) and high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) (P<0.05-0.01); HDL-C was significantly lower in group B than that in group A (1.1±0.3) vs(1.4±0.3)mmol/L,P<0.01. Pearson correlation analysis showed that WHR was positively and significantly correlated with age,histories of hypertension,hyperlipidemia and drinking,as well as arm circumference,office systolic,diastolic blood pressures,MAP,ALT,serum creatinine,fasting blood glucose,UA,TG,and TC/HDL-C (r=0.086,0.233,0.160,0.135,0.707,0.098,0.187,0.168,0.320,0.113,0.140,0.115,0.323,0.297,P<0.05-0.01); whereas negatively correlated with HDL-C(r=-0.373,P<0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that age,history of hypertension,ALT,HDL-C and arm circumference were independent factors of WHR. Conclusion WHR is significantly correlated with components of metabolic syndrome and office blood pressure in hypertensive patients. Age,history of hypertension,ALT,HDL-C and arm circumference are independent factors to affect WHR.