Distribution of adipose tissue and risk of cardiovascular disease and death: a 12 year follow up of participants in the population study of women in Gothenburg, Sweden.

A longitudinal population study of 1462 women aged 38-60 was carried out in Gothenburg, Sweden, in 1968-9. In univariate analysis the ratio of waist to hip circumference showed a significant positive association with the 12 year incidence of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke, and death. The association with incidence of myocardial infarction remained in multivariate analysis and was independent of age, body mass index, smoking habit, serum cholesterol concentration, serum triglyceride concentration, and systolic blood pressure. The relation between the ratio of waist to hip circumference and the end points of myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, stroke, and death was stronger than for any other anthropometric variable studied.