Neck Circumference as Simple Screening Measure for Predicting the Annual Mortality in Menopausal Status Women using Treadmill Exercise Stress Test.

BACKGROUND

Neck circumference (NC) is a simple screening measure for identifying overweight and obesity. It was recently proposed that the NC may be represent a better parameter of cardiovascular risk, when compared to fat stored in the visceral region.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether a single measure of NC might be used to identify hemodynamic response, annual mortality rate in treadmill exercise stress test (EST) and traditional anthropometric parameters in perimenopausal/menopausal women.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This is a cross-sectional study of 76 perimenopausal/menopausal women. Main indicators included NC, body mass index (BMI), waist circumferences (WC), waist to hip ratio (WHR), average annual mortality rate, and hemodynamic response during treadmill EST. Statistical analysis was done by using student’s t-test and Pearson correlation. The p-value was taken as significant at 5% confidence level (p<0.05). Results: The research included 76 perimenopausal/menopausal women with an average age of 50.26±8.36 years. Perimenopausal/menopausal women with lower NC values (<35 cm) presented no difference in EST values when compared to women with higher NC values (≥35 cm). Average annual mortality had inverted correlation with NC (p = 0.04). The other traditional parameters, BMI and WHR did not correlate with the annual mortality rate. The hemodynamic response of the treadmill exercise parameters in rate pressure product, heart rate recovery, and functional capacity did not correlate with NC.

CONCLUSION

NC measurement is simple and timesaving screening measure that may be added to prognostic parameters for prediction of annual mortality. Average annual mortality in treadmill EST had inverted correlation with NC. The other traditional anthropometric parameters did not correlate with prognostic variables of treadmill EST.