The Association Between Height‐Related Novel Anthropometric Indices and Cardiovascular Events: A Cross‐Sectional Insight From the MASHAD Cohort Study

ABSTRACT Background and Aims Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a worldwide health concern, with factors like poor nutrition and environmental conditions contributing to the burden of CVD and its mortality. Height and other anthropometric indices such as neck circumference (NC), hip circumference (HC), wrist circumference (WrC), waist‐to‐height ratio (WHtR), and mid‐upper arm circumference (MUAC) have been associated with CVD, cardiometabolic risk, and CVD mortality. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research on the relationship between height and height‐related indices. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between height‐related novel anthropometric indices and the incidence of CVD. Methods This cross‐sectional study investigated the association between novel height‐related anthropometric indices and the incidence of CVD among participants in phase II of the Mashhad Stroke and Heart Atherosclerotic Disorders (MASHAD) cohort study. The anthropometric indices measured included body mass index (BMI), WHtR, hip to height ratio (HHR), wrist to height ratio (WrHR), neck to height ratio (NHR), and mid‐arm to height ratio (MAHR). The study population was divided into two groups: healthy individuals and those with CVD. Results A total of 7113 individuals participated in the study. Of these, 88.2% were healthy, and 11.8% had CVD. Multivariable logistic regression analysis unveiled a significant 2.4% decrease in CVD odds as one percent decrease in WHtR in men [OR:1.024 (1.001–1.047), p ‐value = 0.039], but no significant association was found in women after accounting for confounding factors ( p ‐value > 0.05). Conclusion Our study identified WHtR as a significant predictor of CVD incidence in men, highlighting its potential as an effective indicator for CVD risk. Meanwhile, the lack of a significant relationship between height and other anthropometric indices with CVD risk in women may suggest confounder effects and also a need for further investigation into the relationship between these indices and CVD risk in females in a larger sample size.