The Relationship of Waist Circumference with the Morbidity of Cardiovascular Diseases and All-Cause Mortality in Metabolically Healthy Individuals: A Population-Based Cohort Study

Abstract

Background: This study explores the relationship between waist circumference and morbidity of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and all-cause mortality in metabolically healthy individuals. Methods: A cohort of 5775 metabolically healthy participants from the 2001–2014 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and National Death Index database was tracked over a median period of 81 months. These participants were divided into quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4) based on increasing waist circumference. To compensate for missing covariates, multivariate multiple imputation methods were used. Adjusted logistic regression models were employed to examine the correlation between waist circumference and cardiovascular disease prevalence. Furthermore, Kaplan-Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression analysis were utilized to evaluate the association between waist circumference and all-cause mortality, both qualitatively and quantitatively. Results: The adjusted logistic regression model indicated that a 10 cm increase in waist circumference was associated with a 1.45 times higher prevalence of CVD. As a categorical variable, there was a significant upward trend in CVD incidence across quartiles of waist circumference. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) were 2.41 (1.13–5.53) for Q2, 2.65 (1.18–6.39) for Q3, and 2.53 (0.9–7.44) for Q4, compared to Q1. Notably, individuals with high waist circumference showed significantly poorer survival compared to those with low waist circumference (p = 0.008). The Cox regression analysis revealed that each 10 cm increase in waist circumference contributed to an ~8% increase in all-cause mortality. Conclusions: This study underscores a positive correlation between waist circumference and both CVD morbidity and all-cause mortality in metabolically healthy individuals. The findings highlight the significance of routinely monitoring waist circumference for effective CVD risk management, regardless of metabolic health status.

Keywords

• waist circumference
• cardiovascular disease
• morbidity
• all-cause mortality