Waist to Height Ratio for Predicting Hemodynamic Responses of Treadmill Exercise Stress Test in Perimenopausal/Menopausal Women.

BACKGROUND

Waist to height ratio (WHtR) is a simple screening measure for identifying overweight and obesity. It was recently proposed that the WHtR may represent a better parameter of cardiovascular risk, when compared to simple anthropometric parameters.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the hemodynamic responses of treadmill exercise stress test (EST) in perimenopausal and menopausal women with new central obesity parameter as WHtR.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

This is a cross-sectional study of 76 perimenopausal/menopausal women. Main indicators included WHtR and hemodynamic parameters of 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

Seventy-six perimenopausal/menopausal women, with average age of 50.26±8.36 years. Perimenopausal/menopausal women with lower WHtR values (<0.5) had different EST values in exercise duration time, functional capacity, rate pressure roduct (RPP), and heart rate recovery (HRR) after treadmill EST when compared to women with greater WHtR (≥0.5). No correlations of WHtR with 5-year survival or average annual mortality.

CONCLUSION

WHtR measurement is a simple and timesaving screening measure for central obesity that can be used to differential hemodynamic response in treadmill EST. WHtR ≥0.5 has abnormal hemodynamic response in HRR, which is associated with a strong adverse prognostic marker in premenopausal/menopausal population. Exercise capacity is lower in central obesity group.