Abstract

PEREIRA, Rosângela Alves; SICHIERI, Rosely  and  MARINS, Vânia M. R.. Waist: hips girth ratio as a predictor of arterial hypertension. Cad. Saúde Pública [online]. 1999, vol.15, n.2, pp. 333-344. ISSN 0102-311X.  http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S0102-311X1999000200018.

This study aims to define cut-off points for the waist:hips girth ratio (WHR), using arterial hypertension as the outcome. The data refer to 3,282 individuals over twenty years of age examined in a survey conducted in the municipality of Rio de Janeiro in 1995-1996, using a two-stage sample. Sixty census tracts were drawn initially; subsequently, 34 households were selected systematically from each tract. Stature, weight, waist and hips girths, and blood pressure were measured in the households. The criterion for hypertension was a systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or diastolic pressure of 90 mmHg, or use of medication to reduce blood pressure. The sensitivity and specificity of different cut-off points for WHR were calculated in the prediction of arterial hypertension according to sex, age, and presence of overweight, classified according to World Health Organization guidelines. The best cut-off points for WHR were 0.95 for men and 0.80 for women. Compared to the waist:stature ratio and waist circumference, the WHR proved more capable of predicting arterial hypertension and less correlated with body mass index.

Keywords : Hypertension; Cardiovascular Diseases; Sensitivity and Especificity; Epidemiology.