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Meta-Analysis
. 2020 Feb;25(1):151-161.
doi: 10.1007/s40519-018-0534-x. Epub 2018 Jul 3.

Association of wrist circumference with cardio-metabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Nazli Namazi  1 , Shirin Djalalinia  2 , Armita Mahdavi-Gorabi  3 , Hamid Asayesh  4 , Morteza Mansourian  5 , Mehdi Noroozi  6 , Mostafa Qorbani  7   8
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Association of wrist circumference with cardio-metabolic risk factors: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Nazli Namazi et al. Eat Weight Disord. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Background and aims: The association of Wrist Circumference (WrC) with cardio-metabolic risk factors is still contradictory. We aimed to systematically review the association of WrC with cardio-metabolic diseases among the general populations.

Methods: We systematically searched electronic databases such as PubMed/Medline, Web of Sciences, and Scopus without language restriction until March 2017. Observational studies that examined the association of WrC with any cardio-metabolic risk factors were included. Pooled association of WrC with metabolic syndrome (MetS) was estimated using a random-effect model, and heterogeneity among studies was assessed by I2 index and Q test.

Results: A total of 14 papers including cohort study (n = 9), cross-sectional study (n = 4), and case-control study (n = 1) met the criteria and included. The eligible papers have been examined the association of WrC with any cardiovascular disorders (n = 8), metabolic syndrome (n = 4), insulin resistance (IR) (n = 5), diabetes mellitus (n = 2), impaired glucose tolerance (n = 1), cardio-metabolic risk factors (n = 2) and obesity/overweight (n = 1). In the whole population (both adults and pediatric population), high WrC increased the risk of MetS by 33% (Pooled OR = 1.33; 95% CI 1.20, 1.48; I2 = 60.2%, p = 0.04), while the pooled OR in adult populations was 1.27 (95% CI 1.15-1.41; I2: 32.8%, p = 0.21). Qualitative synthesis showed that associations of WrC with other cardio-metabolic risk factors are conflicting.

Conclusion: High WrC increased the risk of MetS and other cardio-metabolic risk factors. However, due to limited studies, particularly in children, results should be declared with great caution. Further cohort studies are needed to clarify whether WrC is a suitable anthropometric index to predict cardio-metabolic disorders in adult and children populations in different societies.

Level of evidence: Level 1, systematic review and meta-analysis.

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Metabolic syndrome; Wrist circumference.

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