Comparing the association of selected anthropometric indices with cardiovascular disease risk and vascular age in adults under 40 years
1
Physiology and Environmental Health, University of Limpopo, Mankweng, Polokwane, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a growing concern in low- and middle-income countries. Simple adiposity measures such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist‑to‑hip ratio (WHR), and waist‑to‑height ratio (WHtR) may help detect early vascular ageing before clinical risk becomes elevated. This study compared associations between these anthropometric indices, estimated 10‑year CVD risk, and vascular age among adults younger than 40 years.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional study included 400 adults aged 29–38 years. Anthropometric indices were derived from height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences. Framingham 10‑year general CVD risk (%) and vascular age were calculated using a publicly available Framingham General CVD Risk Calculator, which applies the published sex‑specific equations. Vascular age delta was defined as vascular age minus chronological age. Analyses were conducted in IBM SPSS Statistics. Participants were stratified by sex and smoking status into four groups. Continuous variables were summarised using mean and standard deviation. Pearson correlation coefficients with 95% confidence intervals were used to evaluate associations. Univariable linear regression models were run per stratum. Binary outcomes were defined as Framingham risk ≥5% and vascular age delta ≥5 years. Discrimination was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.
RESULTS:
In women non‑smokers, WC, WHtR, and BMI were positively associated with vascular age delta, while WHR showed little association. WHtR and WC best discriminated vascular age delta ≥5 years. Among men who smoke, anthropometric measures provided limited discrimination for 10‑year CVD risk but BMI moderately discriminated vascular age delta ≥5 years. AUC estimates were unstable in strata with very few individuals above the 5% risk threshold.
CONCLUSIONS:
Among adults under 40, anthropometric indices offer limited value for short‑term CVD risk classification but provide meaningful insight into early vascular ageing. WHtR and WC were strongest in women non‑smokers, whereas BMI was most informative in male smokers.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a growing concern in low- and middle-income countries. Simple adiposity measures such as body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist‑to‑hip ratio (WHR), and waist‑to‑height ratio (WHtR) may help detect early vascular ageing before clinical risk becomes elevated. This study compared associations between these anthropometric indices, estimated 10‑year CVD risk, and vascular age among adults younger than 40 years.
METHODS:
This cross-sectional study included 400 adults aged 29–38 years. Anthropometric indices were derived from height, weight, waist, and hip circumferences. Framingham 10‑year general CVD risk (%) and vascular age were calculated using a publicly available Framingham General CVD Risk Calculator, which applies the published sex‑specific equations. Vascular age delta was defined as vascular age minus chronological age. Analyses were conducted in IBM SPSS Statistics. Participants were stratified by sex and smoking status into four groups. Continuous variables were summarised using mean and standard deviation. Pearson correlation coefficients with 95% confidence intervals were used to evaluate associations. Univariable linear regression models were run per stratum. Binary outcomes were defined as Framingham risk ≥5% and vascular age delta ≥5 years. Discrimination was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.
RESULTS:
In women non‑smokers, WC, WHtR, and BMI were positively associated with vascular age delta, while WHR showed little association. WHtR and WC best discriminated vascular age delta ≥5 years. Among men who smoke, anthropometric measures provided limited discrimination for 10‑year CVD risk but BMI moderately discriminated vascular age delta ≥5 years. AUC estimates were unstable in strata with very few individuals above the 5% risk threshold.
CONCLUSIONS:
Among adults under 40, anthropometric indices offer limited value for short‑term CVD risk classification but provide meaningful insight into early vascular ageing. WHtR and WC were strongest in women non‑smokers, whereas BMI was most informative in male smokers.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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