Waist-to-height ratio as a novel marker of metabolic syndrome in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Aim: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is associated with chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disorders. New markers are needed for the early detection and successful treatment of MetS, especially in patients with T2DM. The serum uric acid-to-creatinine ratio (UCR) and waist-to-height ratio (WHR) are novel markers in various chronic metabolic disorders. We aimed to compare WHR, UCR, and other metabolic and laboratory markers in T2DM patients with and without MetS. Methods: Patients with T2DM who visited the outpatient clinics of our institution were enrolled in the study. Total diabetic subjects were 239 of which 180 were in MetS group while 59 were in without MetS group. Data from both study groups were compared. Results: The serum UCR in the MetS and control groups was 6.3 ± 2.1 and 5.8 ± 1.6, respectively (p = 0.04). The WHR in the MetS and control groups was 0.65 (0.47–0.87) and 0.62 (0.35–0.84), respectively (p < 0.001). Significant positive correlations were observed between UCR and triglycerides (r = 0.17, p = 0.009), waist circumference (r = 0.13, p = 0.046), hip circumference (r = 0.18, p = 0.006), BMI (r = 0.2, p = 0.002), and GFR (r = 0.4, p < 0.001). Similarly, significant positive correlations were noted between WHR and systolic blood pressure (r = 0.12, p = 0.049), weight (r = 0.5, p < 0.001), BMI (r = 0.7, p < 0.001), and UCR (r = 0.12, p = 0.047). In the ROC analysis, the sensitivity and specificity of WHR (when higher than 0.64) in detecting MetS were 72% and 54%, respectively (AUC: 0.69, p < 0.001, 95% CI: 0.61–0.77). Conclusions: We propose that WHR and UCR could be valuable tools for the early detection of MetS in patients with T2DM. The ease and low cost of evaluating WHR and UCR make them practical markers for monitoring and diagnosing MetS.