Apple Shape Predicts Heart Attack Risk Better than BMI - CME Teaching Brief - MedPage Today
By Michael Smith, MedPage Today Staff Writer
Reviewed by Rubeen K. Israni, M.D., Fellow, Renal-Electrolyte and Hypertension Division, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
November 04, 2005
Also covered by: Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Newark Star-Ledger
MedPage Today Action Points
* Advise patients that abdominal obesity is a major cardiovascular risk factor.
* Explain to patients that this study suggests that the key predictor of risk may be how the waist size relates to the hips, a high waist-to-hip ratio appearing to predict an increased risk of heart attack.
* Note also that the study implies that more people will be counted as "at risk" using waist-to-hip ratio criteria than would have been, based on body-mass index.
Review
A pot belly increases the risk of a heart attack.
HAMILTON, Ontario, Nov. 4 - A pot belly increases the risk of a heart attack -- even if the rest of the physique is as skinny as a beanpole.
The person with that build would have a low body mass index (BMI). Based on that, the person would be classified as having a low heart attack risk. But, insist researchers here, it's really the ratio between the distance around that pot belly and the circumference of the hips that tells the tale of risk.
Posted by gruwell at November 7, 2005 9:14 AM | TrackBack