Is neck circumference an appropriate tool to predict cardiovascular risk in clinical practice? A cross-sectional study in Chilean population

Abstract

ObjectivesNeck circumference has emerged as a predictor of obesity and metabolic syndrome, but its clinical usefulness for different groups of population is not clearly defined. The aim is to evaluate the predictive capacity of neck circumference in order to detect cardiovascular risks (CVRs) on the Chilean population and to compare it with waist circumference performance.DesignCross-sectional study.SettingGeneral Chilean population.ParticipantsData of 4607 adults aged 18 and over from the Chilean National Health Survey 2009–2010 were analysed.Primary and secondary outcome measuresAnthropometrics measures included neck and waist circumference, height and weight. CVR was identified according to the Framingham tables adapted for the Chilean population. Receiver operating characteristics curves and logistic regression models were made to evaluate the performance of neck circumference to predict a moderate/high CVR, comparing it to waist circumference.ResultsAlmost 10% of the sample had a moderate or high CVR. The probability of having a moderate/high cardiovascular risk increase with cervical obesity (OR 1.95, 95% CI 1.04 to 3.68) and central obesity (OR 4.5, 95% CI 2.47 to 8.22). The area under the curves were high for cervical obesity (AUC 81.4%, 95% CI 78.8% to 84.0%) and central obesity (AUC 82.2%, 95% CI 79.7% to 84.7%) and not statistically different (p=0.152).ConclusionsNeck obesity has a high capacity to predict moderate/high CVR in the Chilean population. Its good performance appears as an opportunity to use it in clinical practice when waist circumference measurement is difficult to measure and eventually replace the waist circumference measurement as the technique is easier.

Cross-sectional relationship among different anthropometric parameters and cardio-metabolic risk factors in a cohort of patients with overweight or obesity

“…Even though recent studies, performed in a Chinese population [ 33 ] and in young Spanish adults [ 34 ], showed that NC has the same power as waist circumference in identifying metabolic disorders and quantifying cardiovascular risk, it has been stated that an increased NC is positively associated with the metabolic syndrome factors; thus the risk of coronary heart disease is likely to increase [ 35 ]. However, we agree with Caro et al, who suggested that NC measurement may be an opportunity in clinical practice when it is difficult to measure WC [ 36 ]. Interestingly, in this study, NC was the only anthropometric parameter to show a significant correlation with total LDL-cholesterol, and this result is in line with a recent systematic review and meta-analysis [ 37 ].…”

What predicts the unsuccess of bariatric surgery? An observational retrospective study

“…The association remained significant in the multivariate model, after adjusting for gender and presence of OSA, suggesting the potential of a simple and cost-saving measurement, which is less affected by the changes in the body size occurring during the course of the life. This result is intriguing, considering the emerging role of neck circumference in the prediction of major outcomes such as cardiovascular diseases and mortality [ 46 , 47 ].…”

Telomere shortening associates with elevated insulin and nuchal fat accumulation

“…Primarily in 2010, Preis et al 63 showed in the Framingham Heart Study that increased neck circumference indicates a high risk for cardiovascular diseases. Recently, Caro et al 64 and Koppad et al 65 confirmed these observations. Our herein observed association between nuchal fat accumulations, decreased RTL and increased insulin levels may indicate the beginning of a pathological process leading to cardiovascular disease later in life.…”