Retrospective Study of the Association between Waist Circumference and Mortality in the Korean Elderly

Abstract

Background: Elderlies and adults might face dissimilar fates in terms of prevalence of metabolic syndrome or mortality owing to it, even if they share the same waist circumferences (WC). However, researches that might shed light on such possibility is lacking. As such, this following study aims to delve into the relationship between WC and mortality among elderlies. Methods: Subjects for the elderly cohort study were selected from NHIS-senior. Among 251,593 patients who are aged ≥65 years and qualified to having received at least one health examination between the year of 2009 and 2012, 75,856 subjects were selected. Study subjects were then divided into eight groups of set WC intervals; the study was followed up until the year of 2013 to identify total mortality of aforementioned eight groups, after which hazard ratio of each group was calculated in respect to the reference group with WC interval of 85∼90 centimeters. Results: Elderlies with WC of over 95 centimeters, whether analyzed wholly or separately as male/female, faced significant increases in mortality; on the other hand, elderlies with that of less than 95 centimeters did not. The waist interval group associated with the lowest mortality rate differed between male (80∼85 centimeters) and female elderlies (75∼80 centimeters). Conclusion: A large waist circumference is a risk factor of mortality among elderlies. Hence, strict management of a waist circumference should be reinstated to reduce mortality of elderlies.