Neck height ratio is an important predictor of metabolic syndrome among Asian Indians

Abstract

Background and Aims:The predictive potential of neck circumference (NC) based indices (a measure of upper body fat distribution) for predicting metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components among Indians is not known. This study aimed to evaluate the role of NC and neck height ratio (NHtR) as independent predictors of MetS and its components as compared to traditional anthropometric indices.Materials and Methods:A total of 451 individuals from 867 screened individuals, 30–80 years age, without any co-morbid state who gave informed written consent underwent clinical, anthropometric, and biochemical assessment.Results:Patients with MetS in both the sexes had significantly higher NC, NHtR, glycated hemoglobin, fasting glucose, and dyslipidemia (higher triglycerides, total cholesterol/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol/HDL-C ratio, and lower HDL-C). In both sexes, individuals in the highest tertile of NC had significantly greater central and generalized obesity, lower HDL-C, and significantly higher MetS. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed waist circumference (WC) to have the largest area under the curve for predicting MetS in both sexes, followed by NHtR, NC, and body mass index. NC and NHtR of >34.9 cm (sensitivity 78.6%; specificity 59.3%) and >21.17 cm/m (sensitivity 80.7% and specificity 64.6%) respectively for men and >31.25 cm (sensitivity 72.3%; specificity 64.4%) and >20.48 cm/m (sensitivity 80.4% and specificity 60%) respectively for women were the best values for identifying MetS. Increased NC and NHtR had odds ratio of 1.52 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37–1.68; P < 0.001) and 1.96 (95% CI: 1.67–2.29; P < 0.001) respectively in identifying MetS.Conclusion:NC and NHtR are good predictors of MetS and cardiovascular risk factors in Asian Indians. NHtR is reliable and perhaps an even better index than NC with regards to cardiovascular risk prediction.

Positive association of neck circumference and cardio-metabolic risk factors in Ekiti, Nigeria

“…Kumar et al [18] examined the relationship between NC and metabolic syndrome among Indians, and found that compared with those without the syndrome, more people with metabolic syndrome had abnormal NC. Other workers also reported a higher mean NC in people with metabolic syndrome [25].…”

“…We found no correlation between NC and WHtR in this study. Other workers also found significant correlation between NC and indices of general and central obesity, blood pressure and blood glucose [11,17,21,25,26]. Additionally, some workers also found correlation between NC and other metabolic parameters such as serum total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL-C), triglycerides, C-reactive protein and insulin resistance [26].…”

Estado nutricional, composición corporal e indicadores antropométricos de trabajadores mineros expuestos a hipoxia hipobárica crónica e intermitente a una altitud moderada (0-2500 msnm)

“…Respecto a los indicadores índice cintura/talla, porcentaje de tejido adiposo e índice cintura/cuello, no existen parámetros de referencia a nivel nacional, y menos en una población similar a la de este estudio. Esta situación da cuenta de la necesidad de generar puntos de corte para la población Chilena, debido a la alta proporción de trabajadores que presentaron mediciones por sobre los puntos de corte propuestos en estudios con población similar 19,26 .…”

“…Otro indicador utilizado es el perímetro de cuello, el cual ha surgido como un método de bajo costo, fiable, no invasivo, fácil de reproducir y eficiente para la identificación de obesidad y riesgo cardiovascular en niños, adolescentes y adultos, para quienes incluso se han propuesto puntos de corte 15,16,17,18 . Es más, estudios recientes proponen utilizar el indicador cuello/talla, como una forma de corregir la influencia de la estatura entre sujetos, para el diagnóstico de riesgo cardiovascular 19 .…”

Association Between Neck Circumference and Blood Pressure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

“…Several studies have been conducted in USA [21,25], Europe [26], Asia [27][28][29], Latin America [30], and Middle-East [31] have reported that NC has a direct relation with the blood pressure in adults. Even though, Servan et al [32] and Lou et al [33], revealed that higher NC has no correlation with higher blood pressure or the risk of HTN in adults. Moreover, Ozkaya et al [34] reported that NC is positively associated with systolic and diastolic blood pressure among Turkish men, but the same result was not seen in women.…”