Several studies have documented the associations between anthropometric indices [body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR)] and cardiovascular risk, but results among studies have been inconsistent. Gelber et al. examined, in a prospective cohort of more than 49,000 men and women, the associations between various anthropometric parameters of adiposity and the risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD). Results showed that for all anthropometric indices, higher values were linearly associated with increasing risk of CVD, both in men and women and in both age and multivariable-adjusted models. Associations with CVD did not vary substantially among indices, but WHtR demonstrated the strongest association with CVD. After adjusting for BMI, associations between WHtR and CVD were attenuated but remained significant, suggesting that differences in cardiovascular risk assessment using WHtR or other indices were small and not clinically consequential.
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