For older Chinese men, measuring body mass index, waist size, or waist-to-height ratio all work about equally well to predict if someone has three or more health risks like high blood pressure or diabetes.
Scientific Claim
In elderly Chinese males aged 60 years and older, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio have similar predictive ability for the presence of three or more metabolic risk factors, with area under the curve values of 0.698, 0.691, and 0.688, respectively.
Original Statement
“According to the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), BMI, WC and WHtR were able to similarly predict high metabolic risk in males (0.698 vs. 0.691 vs. 0.688)... The AUC of BMI, WC and WHtR did not differ in males and were all greater than WHpR and BAI”
Evidence Quality Assessment
Claim Status
appropriately stated
Study Design Support
Design supports claim
Appropriate Language Strength
association
Can only show association/correlation
Assessment Explanation
The study is observational and measures statistical prediction, so 'predictive ability' is acceptable but 'association' is the recommended verb strength for observational studies to avoid implying causation.
More Accurate Statement
“In elderly Chinese males aged 60 years and older, body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio are associated with similar predictive ability for the presence of three or more metabolic risk factors, with area under the curve values of 0.698, 0.691, and 0.688, respectively.”
Evidence from Studies
Supporting (1)
Body mass index, waist circumference, and waist-to-height ratio for prediction of multiple metabolic risk factors in Chinese elderly population