A higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with a higher risk of heart disease. But is BMI really the best indicator of heart health? While it has been the standard for years, researchers are exploring a new metric: the body roundness index (BRI). A recent study showed that BRI over time better predicted cardiovascular disease risk.
New research shows that for adults over 45, a higher body roundness index over six years indicates a greater risk of cardiovascular disease study Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Early research suggests that BRI, a measure of abdominal fat and body shape, can predict risk of metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance and cardiovascular disease.
However, the latest study used nationally representative data from more than 9,935 middle-aged and older Chinese adults to estimate the association between BRI trajectories and cardiovascular disease risk over time.
In the study, participants had their waist circumference and height measured at home during enrollment in 2011-2012 and followed every two years. The researchers calculated the body roundness index (BRI) using a standard formula that takes into account waist circumference and height. Rather than using just one BRI measure, they tracked changes over time to see how participants' levels fluctuated.
Blood samples were collected at enrollment and again in 2013-2014. Blood pressure was recorded as the average of three measurements during two visits in 2011-2012 and 2013-2014. Participants' health history, demographics, and lifestyle risk factors were also assessed. During the follow-up period, participants were asked to self-report any diagnoses of heart disease, such as heart attack or stroke.
“Compared with participants in the low stable BRI group, the risk of cardiovascular disease increased by 61% in the moderate stable BRI group and by 163% in the high stable BRI group,” Press release pointed out.
The researchers noted that participants in the moderate and high stable BRI level groups had significantly higher rates of stroke and cardiac events.
“This is the first large study to assess BRI over time and its association with cardiovascular disease incidence in middle-aged and older Chinese adults. Our findings suggest that moderate to highly stable BRI over 6 years appears to have The increased risk of cardiovascular disease suggests that BRI measurement may be used as a predictor of cardiovascular disease incidence,” senior study author Yun Qian, Ph.D., said in a press release.
“This can be explained by the correlation between obesity and high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes, all of which are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Obesity has also been shown to cause inflammation and other mechanisms in the body that may affect the heart's needs More research is needed to confirm and fully understand how these results can be used to prevent cardiovascular disease,” said Dr. Qian.