Purpose: To analyze the associations between waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), waist–hip ratio (WHR), waist–height ratio (WHtR), calf circumference, waist-calf circumference ratio (WCR), and quality of life in Hainan centenarians.
Patients and Methods: A total of 1002 centenarians in Hainan were selected by a full sample survey. The EQ-5D visual analogue scale (EQ-5D-VAS) was used to investigate the quality of life. Restricted cubic splines were used to analyze and visualize the linear relationships.
Results: After adjustment, the standard β values for BMI, WC, WHR, WHtR, calf circumference, and WCR associated with EQ-5D score were 0.101, 0.126, − 0.018, 0.100, 0.302, and − 0.219, respectively; all associations except for WHR were significant (P < 0.01). With increasing BMI, WC, and calf circumference, the risk of EQ-5D score < 1 decreased (odds ratios [ORs] 0.91 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86– 0.97), 0.97 [95% CI: 0.95– 0.99], and 0.87 [95% CI: 0.82– 0.92] after adjustment, respectively). With increasing WCR, the risk also increased (OR 2.70 [95% CI: 1.54– 4.75]).
Conclusion: After excluding nutritional and muscle retention factors, fat central distribution negatively impacted the health-related quality of life of the oldest old population.
Keywords: centenarians, waist–calf circumference ratio, quality of life, obesity