OBJECTIVE: To establish a useful and simple model for evaluating biological age (BA) and to explore the clinical significance of this model. METHODS: A waist circumference density index (WCDI) was established by considering the body as a cylinder and the waist circumference (WC) as the perimeter of this cylinder. Body volume was obtained from WC and height. Body density was obtained by dividing weight by volume, WCDI=weight (kg)÷[height (m)(0.5)×WC (m)(2)], thereby eliminating the impact of weight and height on WC. Waist circumference density age (WCDA), used to assess the clinical significance, was established as WCDA=chronological age-190+2.4×WCDI. WCDA was calculated for different groups of subjects, including healthy individuals and inpatients with primary hypertension or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. RESULTS: WCDI was related to chronological age. The average WCDA of healthy Chinese subjects was 35.63±23.77. The WCDA in patients with hypertension or COPD was significantly lower than that of the control group, evaluated using age-matched pairs of patients. CONCLUSIONS: WCDI may be an effective parameter for evaluating BA; WCDA may be a helpful indicator for evaluating some diseases.
OBJECTIVE: To establish a useful and simple model for evaluating biological age (BA) and to explore the clinical significance of this model. METHODS: A waist circumference density index (WCDI) was established by considering the body as a cylinder and the waist circumference (WC) as the perimeter of this cylinder. Body volume was obtained from WC and height. Body density was obtained by dividing weight by volume, WCDI=weight (kg)÷[height (m)(0.5)×WC (m)(2)], thereby eliminating the impact of weight and height on WC. Waist circumference density age (WCDA), used to assess the clinical significance, was established as WCDA=chronological age-190+2.4×WCDI. WCDA was calculated for different groups of subjects, including healthy individuals and inpatients with primary hypertension or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. RESULTS: WCDI was related to chronological age. The average WCDA of healthy Chinese subjects was 35.63±23.77. The WCDA in patients with hypertension or COPD was significantly lower than that of the control group, evaluated using age-matched pairs of patients. CONCLUSIONS: WCDI may be an effective parameter for evaluating BA; WCDA may be a helpful indicator for evaluating some diseases.