Background
Many researchers have suggested that obesity; especially abdominal obesity may have higher predictive value for coronary heart disease and its risk factors. Since abdominal fat predicts a higher risk for coronary heart disease, waist circumference provides more information on risk assessment than body mass index alone.
Waist measurement and waist-height ratio have been used as Proxy measures of visceral adipose tissue, mainly in adults.
Objectives: to determine the relation between the prevalence of the coronary heart disease and anthropometric indices.
Material and Method: A sample of 250 patients from Sudan heart center, adults were assessed in the period of July – December 2011-2012 in an observational case finding study on all basic population. Data collection included questionnaires, anthropometric measures, such as body mass index, waist circumference and waist-height ratio. Food frequency was also investigated.
Results: The prevalence of general obesity (body mass index) among coronary heart disease patients was found to be, (overweight 37.6%), (obese class1 19.5%), (obese class2 10.5%), and (obese class3 0.8%) in men. On the other hand the prevalence of general obesity (body mass index) among women was found to be, (overweight 46.2%), (12% obese class1), (7.7% obese class2), and (2.6% obese class3).
High Waist circumference in females was found to be (between the ranges of 80-87.9cm) (7.7%) overweight and (87.2%) were obese (equal or more than 88cm). waist circumference among male (20.3%) was found to be (94-101.9cm) and 53.4% equal or more than 102. regarding Waist-height ratio, it was equal to or more than 0.5 among male and female (97%), (96.6%) respectively.
Significant correlation was found between anthropometric indices and food frequency intake, particularly white bread and lamb meat. Also Strong correlation was observed between anthropometric indices and hypercholesterolemia in men.
Conclusion: Anthropometric measurement should be used as screening tool to identify at risk of coronary heart disease. An unhealthy diet contributes to develop coronary heart disease