Male-type fat distribution is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in noninsulin-treated diabetics.

Abdominal fat distribution estimated by the waist/hip ratio (WHR) was studied in 85 subjects (55 men, 30 women) with treated noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), and its association with cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk factors was analyzed. In men, WHR was highly correlated with the body mass index (BMI; r = 0.697), but this was not true in women (r = 0.091). In men, WHR was significantly and positively correlated with mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP) level. In women, this correlation was also positive, but of lesser degree. Fasting plasma insulin was highly correlated with BMI and WHR in men, but not in women. In both sexes, WHR was positively correlated with fasting serum triglyceride and negatively correlated with serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. In addition, mean WHR, but not BMI, was significantly greater in subjects with cardiovascular disease (positive electrocardiographic signs and/or history of angina, myocardial infarction, stroke, intermittent claudication).