Association of Waist-to-Height Ratio, Metabolic Syndrome, and Carotid Atherosclerosis in Individuals with a High Risk of Stroke: A Cross-Sectional Study of 9605 Study Participants.

Background: To determine the association of waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) in individuals with a high risk of stroke. Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 9605 study responders from eight urban area communities in Northern China. Height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure (BP), and blood lipid were measured. Information of population characteristics, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and diet were determined by validated questionnaire. Results: A total of 9605 study responders were included in this study. The average age was 60 ± 9 years with 5911 (61.5%) patients being females. The prevalence of MetS and CAS was 26.2% and 75.1%, respectively. WHtR was significantly associated with CAS using our final adjusted model [odds ratio (OR): 1.233, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.096-1.378]. The association of CAS with hypertension and hyperglycemia were statistically significant among factors that constitute MetS. Additional risk factors affecting the development of CAS included age, previous stroke, and smoking history (P < 0.05). Conclusion: WHtR was determined to perform better compared with other traditional indicators for correlating CAS. We believe that WHtR is a better indicator for the early identification of CAS in individuals with a high risk of stroke. This will facilitate the early detection and intervention of CAS.