Korean J Fam Pract.  2022 Jun;12(3):193-200. 10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.3.193.

The Relationship between Neck Circumference and Cardiovascular Risk Factors Including Metabolic Syndrome in Korean Adults over 40 Years of Age: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2019

• An B
• Park J

• KMID: 2530662
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.3.193

Abstract

Background
We aimed to evaluate the correlation between neck circumference (NC) and cardiovascular risk factors and to propose an optimal cut-off value of NC for the screening of metabolic syndrome in the Korean population.
Methods
From the database of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2019, we extracted the data of 4,208 participants with available relevant clinical information. Correlation analyses were performed to evaluate the association between NC and cardiovascular risk factors. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was used to obtain a cut-off value of NC for the screening of metabolic syndrome.
Results
NC showed a positive correlation with waist circumference, body mass index, diastolic blood pressure, fasting blood sugar, fasting insulin, HbA1c, and triglyceride levels in both male and female. It showed a positive correlation with non-HDL cholesterol in men, systolic blood pressure in women, and a negative correlation with HDL cholesterol in both sexes. The optimal cut-off value for screening metabolic syndrome was 38.0 cm in men and 33.0 cm in women. The odds ratio of the “longer NC” group was significantly higher for hypertension (male 1.780, 95% CI 1.352–2.344;female 1.690, 95% CI 1.330–2.147), diabetes (male 1.470, 95% CI 1.068–2.021; female 2.078, 95% CI 1.552–2.836), dyslipidemia (male 1.888, 95% CI 1.432–2.490; female 1.712, 95% CI 1.345–2.180), and metabolic syndrome (male 2.390, 95% CI 1.888–3.026; female 2.919, 95% CI 2.269–3.757).
Conclusion
NC correlated with cardiovascular risk factors and can be used to predict metabolic syndrome in the Korean population.

Keyword

Neck; Obesity; Cardiovascular Risk Factors; Metabolic Syndrome