The optimal cut-off points of body mass index which reflect the risk factors of cardiovascular disease in the urban Thai male population.

Abstract

To examine the optimal cut-off points of body mass index (BMI) which reflect the risk-level of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in urban Thai males. A cross-sectional research was conducted on Thai males, aged 35-50 who worked and lived in Bangkok. Four hundred and thirteen government officers were selected for blood pressure, weight and height measurements. BMI were calculated and blood samples were collected for blood chemical analysis. Sensitivity, specificity and ROC curve analyses were used for data analysis. The prevalence of overweight subjects was 57.8 percent by the BMI > or = 23 kg/m2, i.e. the Asian cut-off point criteria, while it was only 32.7 percent by the BMI > or = 25 kg/m2, i.e. the WHO criteria. The cut-off points of BMI which corresponded with the at-risk level of SBP, DBP, TC, TG, LDL-C, and HDL-C were 23.5, 23.5, 22.5, 23.5, 23.0 and 24.0 kg/m2, respectively. BMI at 23.5 kg/m2 was suggested as the optimal cut-off point of BMI which reflects the risk-level of CVD risk factors. The findings indicated that the Asian criteria might be more appropriate for urban Thai males who have a sedentary lifestyle than that the WHO criteria. However, the further study with larger sample size is needed to confirm the cut-off point of BMI at 23.5 kg/m2.