Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Indices of obesity and body fat distribution in arteriographically defined coronary artery disease in Men

  • Published:
Irish Journal of Medical Science Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Anthropometric measurements descriptive of obesity, body fat distribution and body build were made in 186 males undergoing diagnostic coronary arteriography. Using stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis, two indices of body fat distribution were independently associated with coronary disease, while the widely used indices of obesity, namely body mass index and percentage body fat, were not. A significant association with disease was found for the ratio of waist to thigh circumferences (waist/thigh ratio), which emerged in the first step of the multivariate model (p < 0.005). The ratio of waist to hip circumferences (waist/hip ratio), a widely used index of body fat distribution, was found to have a negative association with disease (p < 0.05). This study suggests that use of body fat distribution indices may assist in the assessment of the risk factor profile of cardiac patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Barrett-Connor, E. L. Obesity, atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease. Ann. Int. Med. 1985: 103, 1010–9.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Larsson, B., Svardsudd, K., Welin, L., Wilhelmsen, L., Bjorntorp, P., Tibblin, G. Abdominal adipose tissue distribution, obesity of cardiovascular disease and death: 13 year follow-up of participants in the study of men born in 1913. Br. Med. J. 1984: 288, 1401–4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Ducimetiere, P., Richard, J., Cambien, F. The pattern of subcutaneous fat distribution in middle aged men and the risk of coronary artery heart disease: The Paris Prospective Study. Int. J. Obes. 1986: 10, 229–40.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Donahue, R. P., Abbot, R. D., Bloom, E., Reed, D. M., Yano, K. Central obesity and coronary heart disease in men. Lancet 1987: April 11, 821– 4.

  5. Thomas, J. Kilkenny army personnel health survey (Thesis). Dublin, Ireland: Faculty of Community Medicine of Ireland, Royal College of Physicians, 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Durnin, J. V. G. A., Womersley, J. Body fat assessed from total body density and its estimation from skinfold thickness: measurements on 481 men and women aged from 16–72 years. Br. J. Nutr. 1974: 32, 77–97.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Sjostrom, L. New aspects of weight for height indices and adipose tissue distribution in relation to cardiovascular risk and total adipose tissue volume. In: Berry, E. M. ed. Recent Advances in Obesity Research V. Proceedings of the 5th International Congress on Obesity 4–9th September 1986. Israel, Jerusalem. London, Paris: J. Libbey 1987: 66–76.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Weinsier, R. L., Norris, D. J., Birch, R. et al. The relative contribution of body fat and fat pattern to blood pressure. Hypertension 1985: 7, 578–85.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Mueller, W. H., Wear, M. L., Hanis, C. L. et al. Which measure of body fat distribution is best for epidemiologic research? Am. J. Epidemiol. 1991: 133, 858–69.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Terry, R. B., Stefanick, M. L., Haskell, W. L., Wood, P. D. Contributions of regional adipose tissue depots to plasma lipoprotein concentrations in overweight men and women: Possible protective effects of thigh fat. Metabolism 1991:40, 1991:40,733–40.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Hauner, H., Stangl, K., Schmatz, C., Burger, K., Blomer, H., Pfeiffer, E. F. Body fat distribution in men with angiographically confirmed coronary artery disease. Atherosclerosis 1990: 85, 203–210.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Clinical Cardiology, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Eccles Street, Dubin 7, Ireland

    M. A. T. Flynn, E. T. M. Keelan & D. D. Sugrue

  2. Department of Epidemiology, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin 7

    M. B. Codd

  3. Department of Clinical Medicine, Trinity College Medical School, St. James’s Hospital, Dublin 8, Ireland

    M. J. Gibney

Authors
  1. M. A. T. Flynn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. B. Codd
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. J. Gibney
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. E. T. M. Keelan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. D. Sugrue
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Flynn, M.A.T., Codd, M.B., Gibney, M.J. et al. Indices of obesity and body fat distribution in arteriographically defined coronary artery disease in Men. I.J.M.S. 162, 503–509 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03022584

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03022584

Keywords

Search

Navigation