Waist-to-Height Ratio as a Key Predictor for Diabetes and Hypertension in Lao PDR National Health Survey

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the potential predictive value of four noninvasive anthropometric indices in screening for the risk of diabetes and hypertension in the Lao population. The data used for this study were collected as part of the National Health Survey which used the World Health Organization’s stepwise approach, covered 17 provinces and Vientiane capital, and had a representative sample of 3240 participants above 18 years old. Among the anthropometry indices tested, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) had the highest predictive power for the prevalence of diabetes (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.73) and hypertension (AUC = 0.70). It is suitable for use in urban or rural areas and for fieldwork. The WHtR can serve as a public health and clinical screening tool, as there are no differences between sexes, ages, and ethnicities when monitoring diabetes and hypertension risk in Lao PDR, using the optimal cutoff point of 0.5 for both diabetes and hypertension.