Evaluation of different anthropometric indices for predicting metabolic syndrome.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Metabolic syndrome is a condition characterized by metabolic abnormalities. Its overall prevalence increases with age, in turn resulting in a substantial burden of disease all around the world. The aim of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of several anthropometric indices for predicting metabolic syndrome among the elderly people. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: This study was conducted on 348 elderly people aged 65 and over, including those who were diagnosed with metabolic syndrome based on the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III criteria and those who did not suffer from metabolic syndrome. A trained dietitian performed body weight, height, waist circumference, and hip circumference measurements. Furthermore, body mass index, waist-hip ratio, waist-height ratio, conicity index, abdominal volume index, body shape index, and body roundness index values were measured. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to assess the capability of these indices to predict metabolic syndrome.  RESULTS: Of the 348 subjects recruited, 56.0% had metabolic syndrome. Body Roundness Index had the largest area under the curve for predicting metabolic syndrome in both males and females (0.678 and 0.645, respectively), followed by abdominal volume index (0.673 and 0.626, respectively) and waist circumference (0.672 and 0.626, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Body roundness index was more effective compared to the other seven indices for predicting metabolic syndrome in the elderly population in Turkey.