Correlation between anthropometric indexes and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among the elderly population in Amirkola

The ageing of population is an increasing phenomenon worldwide. Cardiovascular diseases are one of the most important chronic disease in ageing. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between the anthropometric indexes and risk factors of cardiovascular diseases among the elderly population in Amirkola (Mazandaran, Iran).
This descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was a part of the Amirkola Health and Ageing Cohort Project (AHAP). Demographic information was collected using a standard questionnaire. Fasting blood samples were collected from all participants to measure the serum level of lipids. Measurement of systolic and diastolic blood pressure and anthropometric indexes [e.g. body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR) and waist to height ratio (WHR)] were done for all participants.
One thousand five hundred and six elderly people of Amirkola (age> 60 years) were participated in this study. There was a positive and significant correlation between the BMI and systolic and diastolic blood pressures, total cholesterol (TC), high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) and triglyceride. The WC had a positive and significant correlation with systolic and diastolic blood pressures, HDL-C and triglyceride. The correlation between WHR and systolic and diastolic blood pressures, HDL-C and triglyceride was positive and significant; however the correlation between the anthropometric indexes and TC and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) was negative and significant. The WHR had a significant positive correlation with all studied risk factors.
According to the findings of present study, WHR index had stronger correlation with risk factors for cardiovascular disease in the elderly.