Minimum waist circumference and visceral fat values by ultrasonography to identify adult urban Filipinos at risk for metabolic syndrome
- Author:
Ma. Cristina E. Hizon
;
Josephine C Rabocca
;
Eddelyn G. Salomon
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:
Philippine Journal of Internal Medicine
2011;49(1):15-21
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Objective: This study aims to determine the minimum waist circumference and visceral fat values by ultrasonography that will identify adult urban Filipinos at risk for metabolic syndrome. Methodology: This is an observational , analytical , cross-sectional study among executive health checkup patients at the Makati Medical Center. Criteria for metabolic syndrome was based on the 2009 revised criteria proposed by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), World Heart Federation, International Atherosclerosis Society and National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Visceral fat thickness (VFT) was measured by ultrasonography. Waist circumference (WC) was taken as the circumferential measurement of the area at the midpoint between the lower border of the last rib and the iliac crest. Results: Three hundred eleven patients aged 40-65 year s old were enrolled in the study. Forty-seven percent were females and 53 percent were males. Based on the revised criteria for metabolic syndrome, 45.9 percent had metabolic syndrome. Ninety-one were males and 52 were females. For males , the minimum VFT associated with the metabolic syndrome was 17.70 mms, with a mean of 59.39 mms, and the minimum waist circumference associated with metabolic syndrome was 82.50 cms with a mean of 99.74 cms. For females, the minimum VFT associated with the metabolic syndrome was 10.70 mms, with a mean of 47.77 mms, and the minimum waist circumference was 78.00 cms, with a mean of 92.68 cms. In general, the VFT showed a strong and significant correlation with the waist circumference (r = 0.709, p < 0.01), and a weak but significant correlation with the other components of the metabolic syndrome: elevated FBS, elevated TG, elevated BP and low HDL (r = 0.226, 0.267, 0.200 and 0.146, respectively, p < 0.01). In both males and females, the VFT showed a strong and significant correlation with the waist circumference (r = 0.625 and 0.698 respectively, p < 0.01). However, among females, the VFT showed a weak but significant correlation with the other four parameters for metabolic syndrome (r = 0.261, 0.382, 0.259 and 0.260; p = < 0.01), and a very weak or no correlation with the other parameters for metabolic syndrome among males (r = 0.177, 0.101, 0.081 and 0.140; p = < 0.01). The minimum cut-off values for waist circumference were 98 cms and 91 cms for males and females, respectively. The minimum cut-off values for VFT were 62 cms and 48 cms for males and females, respectively. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that in both male and female adult urban Filipinos, the visceral fat values obtained by ultrasonography are weak predictors to identify their risk for metabolic syndrome. Among male adult urban Filipinos, the waist circumference is a weak predictor to identify risk for metabolic syndrome while for female adult urban Filipinos, the waist circumference is a moderate predictor to identify the risk for metabolic syndrome. The minimum waist circumference cut-off values for males and females obtained in this study were higher than the current cut-off values. The cut-off values for visceral fat thickness obtained by ultrasonography for males and females were also higher than the available Korean cut-off values.
