Waist Circumference as a Marker of Obesity Is More Predictive of Coronary Artery Calcification than Body Mass Index in Apparently Healthy Korean Adults: The Kangbuk Samsung Health Study

Abstract

BackgroundWe aimed to assess the risk for coronary artery calcification (CAC) according to groups subdivided by body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in apparently healthy Korean adults.MethodsThirty-three thousand four hundred and thirty-two participants (mean age, 42 years) in a health screening program were divided into three groups according to BMI: <23 kg/m2 (normal), 23 to 25 kg/m2 (overweight), and >25 kg/m2 (obese). In addition, the participants were divided into two groups according to WC. Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) was measured with multi-detector computed tomography in all participants. Presence of CAC was defined as CACS >0.ResultsWhen logistic regression analysis was performed with the presence of CAC as the dependent variable, the risk for CAC increased as BMI increased after adjusting for confounding variables (1.102 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.000 to 1.216]; 1.284 [95% CI, 1.169 to 1.410]; in the overweight and obese groups vs. the normal weight group). When the participants were divided into six groups according to BMI and WC, the subjects with BMI and WC in the obese range showed the highest risk for CAC (1.321 [95% CI, 1.194 to 1.461]) and those with BMI in the overweight range and WC in the obese range showed the second highest risk for CAC (1.235 [95% CI, 1.194 to 1.461]).ConclusionParticipants with obesity defined by both BMI and WC showed the highest risk for CAC. Those with BMIs in the overweight range but with WC in the obese range showed the second highest risk for CAC, suggesting that WC as a marker of obesity is more predictive of CAC than BMI.

Association between thyroid hormone levels, body composition and insulin resistance in euthyroid subjects with normal thyroid ultrasound: The Kangbuk Samsung Health Study

“…This study included subjects of at least 20 years of age who joined the medical health check‐up programme at the Health Promotion Center of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Korea, from 2012 to 2014. The aim of the medical health check‐up programme is to improve the health of employees through regular health examinations and to facilitate early detection of diseases . Most participants are employees of various industrial companies around the country, as well as their family members .…”

“…Subjects completed a structured questionnaire regarding demographic characteristics at the first visit. The height and weight of each subject were measured twice and then averaged; all subjects wore light clothing and no shoes . Weight and height were measured to the nearest 0.1 kg and 0.1 cm, respectively, using a digital scale.…”

“…BMI was calculated using the following formula: weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in metres (kg/m 2 ). Waist circumference (WC) was measured with the subject in the standing position, at the midpoint between the anterior iliac crest and lower border of the last palpable rib …”

“…The aim of the medical health check-up programme is to improve the health of employees through regular health examinations and to facilitate early detection of diseases. [23][24][25] Most participants are employees of various industrial companies around the country, as well as their family members. [23][24][25] Examination costs are mainly paid for by employers, and a considerable proportion of subjects undergo examinations annually or biannually.…”

Articles inEndocrinology and Metabolismin 2016

“…Bae [27] reviewed the cardiovascular safety of diabetic drugs, and Kang and Jung [30] reviewed the cardiovascular effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. Many articles on the topic of diabetes and obesity were published in the remaining issues of 2016 [313233343536373839404142]. …”