BMI Versus the Metabolic Syndrome in Relation to Cardiovascular Risk in Elderly Chinese Individuals
- Yao He, MD, PHD12,
- Bin Jiang, MD, PHD3,
- Jie Wang, MD, PHD4,
- Kang Feng, MD1,
- Qing Chang, MD1,
- Shanxiang Zhu, MPH1,
- Li Fan, MD5,
- Xiaoying Li, MD5 and
- Frank B. Hu, MD, PHD2
- 1Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- 2Nutrition, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- 3Acupuncture, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- 4Clinic of PLA Communication, Beijing, China
- 5Geriatric Cardiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China
- Address correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Yao He, Institute of Geriatrics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, 28 Fuxing Road, Beijing 100853, China. E-mail: yhe301{at}sina.com or fhu{at}hsph.harvard.edu
Abstract
OBJECTIVE—The purpose of this study was to evaluate the associations of BMI versus metabolic syndrome with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in elderly Chinese individuals.
RESEACH DESIGN AND METHODS—We conducted a population-based cross-sectional study in an urban sample of 2,334 elderly subjects (943 men and 1,391 women). Subjects were classified by BMI (≤18.5, <24, <28, and ≥28 kg/m2) and the presence or absence of metabolic syndrome, which was defined by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria. CVDs included clinically diagnosed coronary heart disease (CHD), stroke, and peripheral arterial disease (PAD).
RESULTS—The prevalence rates of overweight (BMI ≥25 kg/m2) and metabolic syndrome according to the IDF criteria were 56.3% (53.9% in men and 57.9% in women) and 46.3% (34.8% in men and 54.1% in women), respectively. Increasing BMI was strongly associated with a higher risk of CHD, stroke, and PAD even after adjustments for metabolic syndrome and other CVD risk factors. Stratified analysis of participants with or without metabolic syndrome showed that BMI was independently associated with CHD, stroke, and PAD.
CONCLUSIONS—Both overweight and metabolic syndrome are highly prevalent in this elderly Chinese population. BMI, as a measure of overall adiposity, is strongly associated with increased prevalence of CVD independent of metabolic syndrome.
- CHD, coronary heart disease
- CVD, cardiovascular disease
- ECG, electrocardiogram
- IDF, International Diabetes Federation
- PAD, peripheral artery disease
- WHO, World Health Organization
Footnotes
-
Published ahead of print at http://care.diabetesjournals.org on 27 April 2007. DOI: 10.2337/dc06-2402.
A table elsewhere in this issue shows conventional and Système International (SI) units and conversion factors for many substances.
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. This article must therefore be hereby marked “advertisement” in accordance with 18 U.S.C. Section 1734 solely to indicate this fact.
-
- Accepted April 23, 2007.
- Received November 23, 2006.
- DIABETES CARE
