Waist to Height Ratio for Predicting Hemodynamic Responses of Treadmill Exercise Stress Test in Perimenopausal/Menopausal Women
Porntip Nimkuntod MD*, Pattama Tongdee MD**
Affiliation : * School of Internal Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand ** School of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Background : Waist to height ratio (WHtR) is a simple screening measure for identifying overweight and obesity. It was
recently proposed that the WHtR may represent a better parameter of cardiovascular risk, when compared to simple
anthropometric parameters.
Objective : To investigate the hemodynamic responses of treadmill exercise stress test (EST) in perimenopausal and menopausal
women with new central obesity parameter as WHtR.
Material and Method: This is a cross-sectional study of 76 perimenopausal/menopausal women. Main indicators included
WHtR and hemodynamic parameters of treadmill EST. Statistical analysis was done by using Student’s t-test and Pearson
correlation. The p-value was taken as significant at 5% confidence level (p<0.05).
Results : Seventy-six perimenopausal/menopausal women, with average age of 50.26+8.36 years. Perimenopausal/menopausal
women with lower WHtR values (<0.5) had different EST values in exercise duration time, functional capacity, rate pressure
product (RPP), and heart rate recovery (HRR) after treadmill EST when compared to women with greater WHtR (>0.5). No
correlations of WHtR with 5-year survival or average annual mortality.
Conclusion : WHtR measurement is a simple and timesaving screening measure for central obesity that can be used to
differential hemodynamic response in treadmill EST. WHtR >0.5 has abnormal hemodynamic response in HRR, which is
associated with a strong adverse prognostic marker in premenopausal/menopausal population. Exercise capacity is lower in
central obesity group.
Keywords : Waist to height ratio, Hemodynamic response, Treadmill exercise stress test, Perimenopausal women, Menopausal Women
