Assessment of Waist Circumference Index as a New Screening Parameter for Pre-Metabolic Syndrome

Aim: The concept of metabolic syndrome (MetS) is useful in encouraging modification of patient’s lifestyle. In order to detect prophase in MetS (pre-MetS), we evaluated waist circumference index (WCI) that was calculated by division of waist circumference (WC) by height in meter squared. Methods: A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed a the prevalence of risk factors for MetS (high blood pressure, abnormal lipid metabolism, high blood glucose) and age, WC, body mass index, WCI and intraabdominal fat area (IAFA) in 111 subjects in whom IAFA was measured at umbilicus level by CT scan. Results: WCI was the second most strongly correlated factor with the prevalence of risk factors after IAFA in terms of P values, and according to the odds ratios WCI was the most significantly correlated. Conclusion: The results suggested that the WCI might be capable of serving as an index that can substitute for a CT scan as a means of detecting pre-MetS.