What are the recommended cutoff points for the waist-to-hip ratio in men and women?

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Puntos de Corte del Índice Perímetro Cintura/Cadera

Los puntos de corte recomendados para el índice cintura/cadera (ICC) son ≥0.95 para hombres y ≥0.80 para mujeres, según las guías europeas de prevención cardiovascular. 1

Valores de Referencia Establecidos

Puntos de Corte Estándar

  • Hombres: ICC ≥0.95 identifica riesgo cardiovascular elevado 1
  • Mujeres: ICC ≥0.80 identifica riesgo cardiovascular elevado 1

Estos valores han sido validados en múltiples estudios de cohorte y caso-control que demuestran la asociación entre ICC elevado y mayor riesgo de desarrollo de enfermedad cardiovascular 1

Limitaciones y Consideraciones Importantes

Superioridad de Otras Medidas Antropométricas

La circunferencia de cintura (CC) sola ha demostrado ser superior al ICC como predictor de riesgo cardiovascular, siendo más simple de medir aunque potencialmente más propensa a error de medición 1

Puntos de Corte para Circunferencia de Cintura (Medida Preferida)

Para población europea/caucásica 1:

  • Nivel de acción 1 (no ganar más peso):

    • Hombres: CC ≥94 cm
    • Mujeres: CC ≥80 cm

  • Nivel de acción 2 (reducción de peso recomendada):

    • Hombres: CC ≥102 cm
    • Mujeres: CC ≥88 cm

Para población asiática 1:

  • Hombres: CC ≥90 cm
  • Mujeres: CC ≥80 cm

Advertencias Clínicas Críticas

Variabilidad Étnica

Los puntos de corte del ICC han sido calculados basándose en población caucásica y requieren ajustes diferentes para distintas razas y etnias 1. Las poblaciones asiáticas, particularmente del sur de Asia, presentan mayor porcentaje de grasa corporal y tejido adiposo visceral a valores más bajos de ICC y CC 1

Controversia en Población Femenina

La evidencia sugiere que los puntos de corte actuales del ICC pueden no ser apropiados para mujeres, grupos de mayor edad y algunos grupos raciales o étnicos, dado que un alto número de mujeres presenta ICC elevado en estudios epidemiológicos sin necesariamente tener riesgo cardiovascular equivalente 2

Recomendación Práctica Actual

En la práctica clínica contemporánea, se recomienda utilizar la circunferencia de cintura en lugar del ICC como medida antropométrica principal para evaluar obesidad central y riesgo cardiovascular, ya que proporciona información adicional al IMC y es más simple de implementar 1

References

1
Guideline

Guideline Directed Topic Overview

Dr.Oracle Medical Advisory Board & Editors, 2025

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Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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