BACKGROUND: Guidelines for optimal weight in older persons are limited by uncertainty about the ideal body mass index (BMI) or the usefulness of alternative anthropometric measures. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association of BMI (in kg/m(2)), waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio (WHR) with mortality and cause-specific mortality. DESIGN: Subjects aged >/=75 y (n = 14 833) from 53 family practices in the United Kingdom underwent a health assessment that included measurement of BMI and waist and hip circumferences; they also were followed up for mortality. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 5.9 y, 6649 subjects died (46% of circulatory causes). In nonsmoking men and women (90% of the cohort), compared with the lowest quintile of BMI (<23 in men and <22.3 in women), adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality were <1 for all other quintiles of BMI (P for trend = 0.0003 and 0.0001 in men and women, respectively). Increasing WHR was associated with increasing HRs in men and women (P for trend = 0.008 and 0.0002, respectively). BMI was not associated with circulatory mortality in men (P for trend = 0.667) and was negatively associated in women (P for trend = 0.004). WHR was positively related to circulatory mortality in both men and women (P for trend = 0.001 and 0.005, respectively). Waist circumference was not associated with all-cause or circulatory mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Current guidelines for BMI-based risk categories overestimate risks due to excess weight in persons aged >/=75 y. Increased mortality risk is more clearly indicated for relative abdominal obesity as measured by high WHR.
BACKGROUND: Guidelines for optimal weight in older persons are limited by uncertainty about the ideal body mass index (BMI) or the usefulness of alternative anthropometric measures. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the association of BMI (in kg/m(2)), waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio (WHR) with mortality and cause-specific mortality. DESIGN: Subjects aged >/=75 y (n = 14 833) from 53 family practices in the United Kingdom underwent a health assessment that included measurement of BMI and waist and hip circumferences; they also were followed up for mortality. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 5.9 y, 6649 subjects died (46% of circulatory causes). In nonsmoking men and women (90% of the cohort), compared with the lowest quintile of BMI (<23 in men and <22.3 in women), adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality were <1 for all other quintiles of BMI (P for trend = 0.0003 and 0.0001 in men and women, respectively). Increasing WHR was associated with increasing HRs in men and women (P for trend = 0.008 and 0.0002, respectively). BMI was not associated with circulatory mortality in men (P for trend = 0.667) and was negatively associated in women (P for trend = 0.004). WHR was positively related to circulatory mortality in both men and women (P for trend = 0.001 and 0.005, respectively). Waist circumference was not associated with all-cause or circulatory mortality. CONCLUSIONS: Current guidelines for BMI-based risk categories overestimate risks due to excess weight in persons aged >/=75 y. Increased mortality risk is more clearly indicated for relative abdominal obesity as measured by high WHR.
Authors: K S Burgdorf; A P Gjesing; N Grarup; J M Justesen; C H Sandholt; D R Witte; T Jørgensen; S Madsbad; T Hansen; O Pedersen Journal: Diabetologia Date: 2011-09-28 Impact factor: 10.122
Authors: James R Cerhan; Steven C Moore; Eric J Jacobs; Cari M Kitahara; Philip S Rosenberg; Hans-Olov Adami; Jon O Ebbert; Dallas R English; Susan M Gapstur; Graham G Giles; Pamela L Horn-Ross; Yikyung Park; Alpa V Patel; Kim Robien; Elisabete Weiderpass; Walter C Willett; Alicja Wolk; Anne Zeleniuch-Jacquotte; Patricia Hartge; Leslie Bernstein; Amy Berrington de Gonzalez Journal: Mayo Clin Proc Date: 2014-03 Impact factor: 7.616
Authors: Christina L Bell; Randi Chen; Kamal Masaki; Priscilla Yee; Qimei He; John Grove; Timothy Donlon; J David Curb; D Craig Willcox; Leonard W Poon; Bradley J Willcox Journal: J Am Geriatr Soc Date: 2014-04-29 Impact factor: 5.562