COMPARISONS OF WAIST CIRCUMFERENCE, WAIST-TO-HIP RATIO AND BODY MASS INDEX AND THEIR ASSOCIATIONS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES IN RURAL AND URBAN INDIA

Abstract

India has the highest prevalence of diabetes mellitus in the world. Anthropometric measurements (waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) and body mass index (BMI)) are risk factors of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This study examined associations between these anthropometric measures and T2DM among 508 urban Indians in New Delhi and 574 rural Indians in Tamil Nadu. Using a receiver operator curve (ROC) the anthropometric cutpoints most strongly associated with T2DM were determined. Bivariate correlation and the area under the ROC curve showed most significant associations between T2DM and WHR (0.90 cm, 0.86; 0.87, 0.81 urban and rural men and women, respectively) followed by WC (86 cm, 85; 86, 75) and then BMI (24 kg/m2, 21; 25, 22). Results from this study showed large variations in cutpoints between the rural and urban populations and suggest that no single cutpoint should be used in India due to large intra- and inter- regional differences within the country.