Higher waist-to-hip ratio linked to sudden cardiac death
Over a median 12.3 years, the highest waist-to-hip ratio quarter had a hazard ratio of 1.95 compared with the lowest quarter.
Dose-response
Limit: Only participants with complete data and ≥1 year of follow-up were included
Edited by Boris Djordjevic · AgingResearch.News
An observational cohort study analyzed 495,983 UK Biobank participants aged 40–69 over a median follow-up of 12.3 years. Researchers compared several body measurements, including waist-to-hip ratio, which compares waist and hip circumferences. They identified 2,621 sudden cardiac deaths through national death and hospital records.
Waist-to-hip ratio predicted sudden cardiac death better than the other body measurements examined. After accounting for demographic, lifestyle and health factors, the highest waist-to-hip ratio quarter had a hazard ratio of 1.95 compared with the lowest. This describes relative risk over time, not the absolute chance of death. Higher waist-to-hip ratios were linked to progressively higher risk.
Why it matters
For middle-aged and older adults, the findings support considering fat distribution when assessing the risk of sudden cardiac death.
Caveats
The observational design does not establish cause and effect. These findings concerned UK Biobank participants aged 40–69 and were reported in a conference abstract.
The paper
Waist-to-hip ratio and risk of sudden cardiac death: a UK Biobank Cohort Study
Samsung Medical Center; Catholic University of Korea
ESC Congress 2026 Abstract, Oct 26, 2026, Open access
Presented at ESC Congress 2026
