Relationship between IMC, abdominal circumference and risk of cardiovascular diseases in university students by gender groups

Abstract

The risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) has increased due to the compulsory confinement established worldwide by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially due to the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and Abdominal Circumference (AC). Based on this, the objective of the study is to determine the relationship between BMI, AC and the risk of cardiovascular diseases in university students by gender group. The methodology was developed based on a quantitative approach study, by non-experimental research design of correlational scope with cross-sectional cut, in a total sample of 1691 Ecuadorian university students (51.1% male) and (48.9% female), BMI was calculated and the phenotype of obesity was determined in addition to the assessment of abdominal circumference with risk categorisation according to WHO, applying a statistical correlation with Spearman's Rho and Kendall's Tau-c tests through the SPSS 25 package. The results reached on the basis of BMI analysis determined: (Male 23.87 ±3.57; Overweight 31.7%, 3% obesity I, 1.4% obesity II and 0.3% obesity III - (Female) 25.38 ±4.10; Overweight 39.3%, %, 11.6% obesity I, 1.8% obesity II and 0. 7% obesity III) with a P≤0.05; CA analysis (Male 85.9 ±10.08: 15.5% risk) (Female 79.84 ±13.26; 41.0%); analysis of relationship with CVD risk (male) 0.463 weak positive correlation P≤ 0.01- (female) 0.653 moderate positive correlation P≤ 0.01).  Based on the results achieved, it was determined that, in the study centre analysed, the relationship between BMI and AC showed that 8.98% (male) and 34.54% (female) were at a CVD risk between the highest and extremely high levels.