Relationship of Anthropometric Measurements with Cortisol, Dehydroepiandrosterone-Sulfate and Atherogenic Risk Factors in Obese Patients

Objective: Central obesity is a risk factor for development o f cardiovascular disease. Adrenal hormones, especially dehydro epiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), might be a cardiovascu lar risk factor and obesity itself can affect the levels of ad renal hormones. Body mass index (BMI) measurement is the most preferred metho d for predicting obesity in clinical practice but is insufficien t for detecting central obesity. We studied the relation between anthr opometric measurements [Waist circumference and BMI ] with serum cortisol and DHEAS, serum lipid profile and fibrinogen levels in obese pa tients. Material and Methods: Patients with BMI of 30-39.9 kg/m 2 were compared with patients with BMI of ≥ 40 kg/m. Also, obese patients with high waist circumference (>102 cm in men and > 88 cm in women) were compared with obese patients with normal waist circumference. Results: No significant difference was obtained be tw en the two BMI groups in the levels of lipid parameters, fibrin ogen, cortisol and DHEAS. Serum cortisol levels were signifi cantly higher in the high waist circumference group comparing to normal w ist circumference group (16.40±3.18 ug/dl, 14.45±7.14 ug/d l respectively; p=0.013). A positive but modest correlation was obtained between fibrinogen and waist circumference (p=0.02, r=0.401). DHEAS levels within high waist circumference group in men were signifi cantly lower than normal waist circumference group (108.8±3.00 μg/dl, 195.7±70.8 μg/dl; p=0.007). Conclusion: Although our male patient group is small, low DHEA S levels may be taken into consideration when cardiovascular disease is evaluated in obese male patients with high waist ci rcumference.