Abstract
INTRODUCTION: High waist circumference (WC), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and body mass index (BMI) are associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. The objective was to identify anthropometric cut-off points that allow discriminating subjects at increased risk of presenting high blood pressure and glycemia in Argentine adults. METHODS: The results of the 4th Argentine ENFR were used. Subjects aged 18 to 65 years who had blood pressure, blood glucose, and anthropometry directly measured were included (n=4254 and 1683 subjects of both sexes for high blood pressure and blood glucose, respectively). The area under the ROC curve was calculated. The optimal cut-off point was the one with the smallest difference between sensitivity and specificity. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were calculated for each point. RESULTS: In men, the cut-off points for high blood pressure were WC=91.5 cm (aOR= 3.55; 95% CI=2.97-4.24), WHtR=0.541 (aOR=3.12; 95% CI =2.61-3.73) and BMI=27.0 kg/m2 (aOR=3.04; CI95%=2.55-3.63); and for high blood glucose WC=94.5 cm (aOR=2.46; 95% CI=1.64-3.70), WHtR =0.559 (aOR=2.35; 95% CI=1.55-3.55) and BMI=28.6 kg/m2 (aOR= 3.23; CI95%=2.14-4.88). In women, for high blood pressure, WC=88.5 cm (aOR=3.57; 95% CI=2.84-4.41), WHtR=0.542 (aOR=3.45; 95% CI=2.79- 4.27) and BMI=26.7 kg/m2 (aOR=3.25; CI95%=2.64-4.02); and for high blood glucose WC=93.5 cm (aOR=4.28; 95% CI=2.72-6.75), WHtR =0.573 (aOR=3.61; 95% CI=2.31-5.66) and BMI=27.8 kg/m2 (aOR= 3.14; CI95%=2.03-4.87). CONCLUSION: Argentine adults who have WC measured on the skin and are above the cut-off points identified here, have a significantly higher risk of presenting high blood pressure and hiperglycemia.