Neck circumference, cardiometabolic risk, and Framingham risk score: Population-based study

Objective To investigate the association of the neck circumference with cardiometabolic risk factors and the Framingham risk score. Methods The study was a cross-sectional population-based one with 948 adults (522 women) aged 20-59 years. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, body composition, behavioral, biochemical, and hemodynamic factors were evaluated. The association between neck circumference, anthropometric variables, body composition and cardiometabolic risk factors was evaluated by multiple linear regression, adjusted for sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Results Are presented as beta coefficients, standard errors, and 95% confidence intervals with a 0.05 significance level. The neck circumference was positively associated with triglycerides, insulin resistance index, uric acid, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, C-reactive protein, waist circumference, body mass index and total body fat estimated by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. The neck circumference and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were negatively associated, even after adjustment for sociodemographic and behavioral factors. Individuals with a neck circumference below the cut-off point to predicting cardiometabolic risks, 39.5cm for men and 33.3cm for women, had lower probability of having a coronary event in 10 years compared to those with a neck circumference above the cut-off point. Conclusion Neck circumference is an alternative measure to estimate body fat and as an additional marker to screen for cardiovascular risk diseases.