Association between neck circumference to height ratio and coronary heart disease: a case–control study in a Northern Chinese female population

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between neck circumference-to-height ratio (NHtR) and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) in women from Northern China. A total of 553 female patients presenting with suspected CHD due to chest pain at Chengde Central Hospital between 2021 and 2025 were included in the study. Based on coronary angiography results, the participants were categorized into the CHD group and the non-CHD group. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify potential influencing factors. The diagnostic value of NHtR was evaluated using Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves and the Area Under the Curve (AUC). In the Northern Chinese female population, NHtR is associated with susceptibility to CHD. After adjusting for potential confounders, including age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and CR, multivariable regression analysis demonstrated a positive correlation between elevated NHtR levels and increased CHD risk (P < 0.05). The correlation heatmap revealed significant associations between NHtR and factors such as age, hypertension, diabetes, and CR. The model exhibited robust discriminative power, with an AUC of 0.728. This study was conducted in a single-center female population in northern China, and the results demonstrate an independent association between NHtR and coronary heart disease. This finding offers a promising biophysical metric for conducting more in-depth research on disease associations within this specific population.