Dr. Villagran-Orellana, Marcelo

Objective: The aim of this study was to identify which anthropometric measurement (body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], or waist-to-height ratio [WHtR]) is a better predictor of type 2 diabetes and hypertension in the Chilean population. Methods: The study included 13 044 participants (59.7% women) from the Chilean National Health Surveys conducted in 2003, 2009-2010, and 2016-2017. BMI, WC, and WHtR were the anthropometric measurements evaluated. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mm Hg and diastolic blood pressure -90 mm Hg or on medication for hypertension. Diabetes was defined as fasting glucose -7 mmol/L or on medication for diabetes. The receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve and the area under curve (AUC) were computed to derive the specificity and sensitivity using a bootstrapping approach. Results: Compared with BMI and WC, WHtR was the anthropometric measurement with the highest AUC curve in both sexes for hypertension (AUC for women: 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.67-0.73; AUC for men: 0.71; 95% CI, 0.69-0.74) and diabetes (AUC for women: 0.71; 95% CI, 0.66-0.77; AUC for men: 0.71; 95% CI, 0.67-0.76). The sex-specific cutoff points of WHtR to predict hypertension were 0.59 and 0.55 for women and men, respectively. Those used to predict diabetes were 0.60 and 0.58 for women and men, respectively. Conclusion: WHtR was a better predictor of hypertension and diabetes than BMI and WC in Chile. The definition of cutoff points specific for the Chilean population could be implemented in future screening programs aiming to identify high-risk individuals.

Background: Walking speed is a strong predictor of non-communicable diseases and mortality. Aim: To investigate the association of self-reported walking pace with adiposity, metabolic and cardiovascular markers in the Chilean population. Material and Methods: Analysis of data from 5,077 participants of the 2009-2010 National Health Survey (ENS 2009-2010). Walking speed was self-reported as average or slow pace. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, blood glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin and lipid profile were the outcome. Results: In Chile, 11% (95% confidence intervals [CI]: 10.0; 12.7) of the population reported a slow walking pace. Compared with average walking people, those reporting a slow pace had a higher body weight (difference (∆) 5.65 kg [95% CI: 3.22; 8.09], p < 0.01), BMI (D 2.48 kg/m 2 [95% CI: 1.53; 3.44], p < 0.01), WC (D 6.23 cm [95% CI: 4.12; 8.34], p < 0.01), serum triglycerides (D 30,9 mg/dl [95% CI: 5,31; 57,5], p = 0.018), and lower HDL cholesterol (D -2.32 mg/dl [95% CI: -4,24; -0,34], p = 0.022). Those reporting a slow pace had also a higher odd of being obese (odds ratio (OR): 2.46 [95% CI: 1.82; 3.33], p < 0.01), being diabetic (OR: 1.54 [95% CI: 1.02; 2.40], p = 0.018) and having metabolic syndrome (OR: 2.03 [95% CI: 1.30; 3.18], p = 0.002). Conclusions: In Chilean adults, slow walking pace is associated with and unfavorable adiposity and lipid profile, including a higher probability of being obese, diabetic and having metabolic syndrome.