Neck circumference as an independent predictive contributor to cardio-metabolic syndrome

Abstract

BackgroundThe predictive potentials of neck circumference (NC) for cardio-metabolic risks remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to investigate whether NC independently contributes to the prediction of cardio-metabolic risks beyond body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist to hip ratio (WHpR) in a large Chinese population.MethodsA total of 4201 participants (2508 men and 1693 women) aged 20-85 were recruited from the Health Examination Centre between May 2009 and April 2010, anthropometric indices, biochemical and clinical parameters were measured. Receiver operating characteristic, partial correlation and logistic regression analyses were employed to evaluate the association of the anthropometric indices to cardio-metabolic risks separately by gender.ResultsNeck circumference was positively correlated with SBP and DBP (r=0.250 and 0.261), fasting blood glucose (FBP) (r=0.177), TG (r=0.240), TC (r=0.143) and LDL-C (r=0.088) and negatively correlated with HDL-C (r=-0.202) in males (all P<0.01). Similar results were found in females with the exception of TC. The AUCs of NC for metabolic abnormalities ranged from 0.558 (Increased LDL-C) to 0.683 (MS-rf) in men and 0.596 (Increased LDL-C) to 0.703 (MS-rf) in women (P<0.01). The NC of ≥37 cm for men and ≥33 cm for women were the best cut-off points for metabolic syndrome. The adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of NC in men and women respectively were 1.29 (1.12-1.48) and 1.44 (1.20-1.72) for metabolic syndrome risk factors (MS-rf), 1.15 (1.01-1.32) and 1.22 (1.03-1.46) for high BP, 1.16 (1.02-1.33) and 1.42 (1.18-1.71) for increased TG, and 1.26 (1.06-1.50) and 1.32 (1.06-1.65) for increased FBP; the adjusted OR of NC in women for decreased HDL-C was 1.29 (1.10-1.51).ConclusionsNeck circumference was significantly associated with cardio-metabolic risk factors and independently contributed to the prediction of cardio-metabolic risks beyond the classical anthropometric indices in adults of China.

Neck Circumference as Useful Marker of Obesity and Its Correlation with Triglyceride Levels

“…Another study explains that individuals with abnormal NCwill have a risk of elevated levels of triglycerides that can lead to metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease [16], [17].…”

Neck Circumference Positively Related with Central Obesity and Overweight in Turkish University Students: A Preliminary Study

“…In the former studies, the correlation between obesity and metabolic disorders and cardiovascular risk factors has been established (11). Even though BMI, WC and W/H ratio are anthropometric indexes commonly used in the diagnosis of obesity, the number of publications stating that NC is an easier and faster parameter has been gradually increasing during recent years (9).…”

“…In community-based studies, it has been demonstrated that there is a positive correlation between NC and metabolic risk factors, insulin resistance and visceral adipose tissue, and that it is an independent determinant for the cardiometabolic syndrome (10,11). In addition, the correlation between central obesity and NC has also been demonstrated in different ethnic groups, diabetics and children (12)(13)(14).…”

Neck Circumference: An Easier Measure to Identify Excess Weight and Cardiovascular Risk?

“…NC is an anthropometric measure of obesity which reflects fat deposition in the upper body. Association of NC with MS and its components, insulin resistance, fatty liver disease, sleep apnea and biomarkers of inflammation have been previously reported [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]. Interestingly, new studies have demonstrated an association between NC and indicators of atherosclerosis, as carotid intimalmedia thickness, but not coronary artery calcium [12].…”