Journal international de santé mondiale

The role of neck circumference measurement – could be a reliable way of evaluating patient's health state

Joanna Holowko

The epidemiological study is one of the most demanding studies. Furthermore, receiving honest data from patients is required to obtain solid statistics. However, there are some questions generally regarded as inhibiting and sensitive, for instance concerning body weight or waist circumference. Those questions could have a significant impact on utter statistics making them unreliable. There is an enormous need to create some useful and convenient anthropometric tools that would help to evaluate patient’s health status simultaneously avoiding sensitive questions and rendering all the data valid. The object of our study was to examine the usefulness of neck circumference in evaluating patient’s body weight and waist circumference. The study was conducted in Szczecin during two popular events: the final of The Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity (10.01.2016) and run for women Alkala (06.03.2016). It included 374 patients, 242 of whom were women. Every participant was measured using flexible measuring tape in order to obtain neck and waist circumference, and also the body mass was weighed. Additionally, the short survey research, concerning height, educational background and place of residence, was conducted. Statistical analysis showed a very strong correlation of neck circumference and both body weight (p<0,01, RHO=0,7) and waist circumference (p<0,01, RHO=0,76). It seems that neck circumference is a solid indicator that can help to evaluate both body weight and waist circumference avoiding sensitive questions. Thus, neck circumference may be helpful in collecting a representative group of people during population study.