July 22, 2010 – Researchers at Laval University are proposing a new approach to assess the risk of heart disease: measuring the waist circumference combined with measuring the level of triglycerides in the blood (blood lipids).
In previous research, the Université Laval team found that individuals with a high level of abdominal fat – lodged in the belly – generally had high triglycerides in their blood. Hence their idea of combining the measurement of waist circumference with that of triglycerides to assess the risks of cardiovascular disease.
To confirm the effectiveness of this approach, the team followed the health status of 21,787 individuals, aged 45 to 79, initially in good health. During the 10 years of the study, 2,109 of them suffered from heart disease.
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Abdominal fat, the most dangerous for health Although it is never recommended, being overweight does not mean that you are at risk for cardiovascular disease. It all depends on the type of fat accumulated. The most dangerous fat for the health of the heart is abdominal fat, which is lodged in the abdomen around internal organs. It is different from subcutaneous fat, located just under the skin, which can be pinched with the fingers. |
Men who initially had a waist circumference greater than 90 cm, combined with a triglyceride level greater than 2.0 millimoles / liter, were 28% more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than those in whom these two indicators were lower. at these thresholds.
Women who had a waist circumference greater than 85 cm and a triglyceride level greater than 1.5 millimoles / liter saw their risk increase by 67% compared to those who had results below the thresholds set.
Not only does the approach appear to be effective, it is inexpensive. A simple tape measure and a standard lipid profile are enough to put it into practice. As stated by Jean-Pierre Després2, study lead investigator, Postmedia News Agency, until now doctors have rarely used to dwell on triglyceride levels when they receive lipid test results (except when the result is abnormally high). A habit he hopes will change.
Dominique Forget – PasseportSanté.net
1. Arsenault BJ, Lemieux I, Després JP et al. The hypertriglyceridemic-waist phenotype and the risk of coronary artery disease: results from the EPIC-Norfolk Prospective Population Study, CMAJ. 2010 Jul 19.
2. Jean-Pierre Després is a researcher at the Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec.
