Differential association of anthropometric parameters with coronary risk in women--data of the CORA study.

Objective: The predictive value of weight gain, BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) as to cardiovascular risk factors and coronary heart disease (CHD) is still controversial.

Methods: 200 consecutive pre- and postmenopausal women with incident CHD (cases) were compared with 255 randomized age-matched population-based controls recruited from corresponding neighborhoods of Hamburg between 1997 and 2001.

Results: At the time of recruitment cases and controls did not differ in BMI, but at any BMI in WC and WHR.