A study of body fat distribution and cardiovascular risk factors in Government Dharmapuri Medical College, Dharmapuri

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in global deaths and accounts for 17 million people worldwide. Despite the favorable changes in the risk factors, new risk factors have emerged. These include abdominal obesity and physical inactivity, both of which are considered independent and mediating factors in the development of cardiovascular disease. They are also associated with type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic syndrome, growing health hazards all over the world and the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Aim of The Study: To determine the associations of Waist circumference and Waist Hip ratio with the risk of incident cardiovascular events and to determine the strength of association of waist and waist hip ratio with cardiovascular risk is different. Materials and methods: A total of 98 cases (49 Cases and 49 Controls) were selected. Newly diagnosed consecutive cases of myocardial infarction admitted to the department to the department of cardiology were enrolled into the study after obtaining consent. These patients were subjected to anthropometric measurements namely waist hip ratio, weight height, skin fold thickness and Lipid profile was done. Results: Both the groups were matched for age, sex and risk factors other than the one studied, namely smoking, alcoholism, diabetes, hypertension, family history. There was no statistical difference is noted between the two groups in age, sex, smoking, alcoholism, Hypertension, Diabetes, Family History. In all these parameters compared between these groups the P value was more than 0.05 which was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: BMI does not properly define obesity and the risk of cardiovascular events. BMI can be normal in a patient with cardiovascular disease. Abdominal obesity is an independent risk factor for coronary heart disease. Waist hip ratio and waist circumference are better indicators of the cardiovascular risk in a given individual than BMI.