Lipid Accumulation Product and Waist-to-height Ratio Are Predictors of the Metabolic Syndrome in a Nigerian Male Geriatric Population

Objective: The metabolic syndrome (MetS) describes a clinical constellation of distinct but interrelated abnormalities that have been linked to many cardio-metabolic diseases which result in increased morbidity and mortality. Several indices have been developed to predict cardio-metabolic diseases. This study evaluated the accuracy of such indices as the lipid accumulation product (LAP), visceral adiposity index (VAI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-to-hip ratio (WHpR) and body mass index (BMI) to predict the metabolic syndrome in a male geriatric population. Methods: Forty geriatric males (age range 65 to 84 years) were studied. Their fasting blood glucose levels, serum lipid profile, blood pressures and relevant anthropometric indices were determined using standard protocols. Validated and appropriate equations were used to derive the necessary indices. Results: Only LAP (p<0.001) and WHtR (p=0.022) were significantly higher in subjects with MetS relative to those without the syndrome. The ROC analyses showed that LAP [Area under the curve (AUC) = 0.937] and WHtR (AUC = 0.905) predicted the MetS, better than the other indices. A LAP threshold of 4.391 had a MetS predictive sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 81%, while a WHtR threshold of 0.61 had a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 78%. Conclusion: LAP and WHtR are associated with, and are sensitive and fairly specific predictors of, the MetS in this geriatric population.