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The following is a summary of “Waist-to-calf circumference ratio as a potential indicator of diabetes risk: results from the Longevity Check-Up (Lookup) 8+,” published in the November 2024 issue of Endocrinology by Cacciatore et al.  

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a familiar metabolic condition with significant health and economic effects. Early detection through accessible and effective indicators is vital for prevention and management.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study examining the association between waist-to-calf circumference ratio (WCR) and DM risk.  

They analyzed data from 8,900 participants (mean age 57.1 ± 14.8 years, 55% women) in the Longevity Check-Up (Lookup) 8+ study, DM was defined as either a self-reported diagnosis, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥126 mg/dL, or random plasma glucose (RPG) ≥200 mg/dL. The WCR was calculated by dividing WC by calf circumference (CC).  

The results showed a DM prevalence of 9.4% among participants. The mean WCR demonstrated a significant trend (P for trend < 0.001). Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) identified substantial differences in WCR across average, pre-diabetes, and DM groups. Unadjusted and adjusted logistic regression analyses revealed a positive association between higher WCR and DM risk. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis indicated that WCR had a higher area under the curve (AUC) than WC alone, with cut-off values of 2.35 for men and 2.12 for women, achieving sensitivity of 91% for men and 92% for women and specificity of 74% for men and 75% for women.  

They concluded that the WCR was a novel, simple, and cost-effective measure for identifying DM risk, with potential for clinical use, especially in resource-limited settings.  

Source: nature.com/articles/s41598-024-79329-8