Anthropometric indices of central obesity how discriminators of metabolic syndrome in Brazilian women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Gynecol Endocrinol. 2012 Jan;28(1):12-5. doi: 10.3109/09513590.2011.583956. Epub 2011 Sep 29.

Abstract

Background: Central obesity is highly prevalent in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and is strongly associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS).

Objectives: To define cut-off points of waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and conicity index (C-Index) to discriminate metabolic syndrome (MetS) in Brazilian women with PCOS.

Methods: In a cross-sectional study, anthropometric, biochemical and clinical parameters were measured in 113 Brazilian PCOS women (27.2 ± 4.5 years). Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to find out the cut-off points of anthropometric indices to predict MetS according with National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP-III) criteria.

Results: Considering the ROC curve analysis the WC and WHtR had a similar performance in predicting MetS and these parameters were better than WHR and C-Index. The optimal cut-off values of the anthropometric indices for discriminate MetS were: WC = 95 cm; WHtR = 0.59; WHR = 0.88; and C-Index = 1.25. By using these cut-off points the sensitivity and specificity rates of WC and WHtR were higher than those observed for WHR and C-Index.

Conclusion: Our results indicated that WC and WHtR are more accurate than WHR and C-Index to predict MetS in Brazilian PCOS women.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Body Weights and Measures* / standards
  • Brazil / epidemiology
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Health Status Indicators*
  • Humans
  • Metabolic Syndrome / complications
  • Metabolic Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Metabolic Syndrome / etiology*
  • Obesity, Abdominal / complications*
  • Obesity, Abdominal / diagnosis*
  • Obesity, Abdominal / epidemiology
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / complications*
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome / epidemiology
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • ROC Curve
  • Reference Values
  • Risk Factors
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Waist Circumference
  • Waist-Hip Ratio
  • Young Adult