Table 4.

First-order partial correlation for BMI or waist circumference (Wc) with atherothrombotic risk factors

CVD risk factors	Partial correlation for BMI with a risk factor (independent of WC)		Partial correlation for WC with a risk factor (independent of BMI)
	Coefficient	P value	Coefficient	P value
HDL-cholesterol	0.135	<0.001	−0.191	<0.001
Log of triglycerides	−0.020	0.346	0.072	<0.001
Systolic BP	0.066	0.002	−0.050	0.018
Diastolic BP	0.042	0.044	−0.035	0.096
Log of AC ratio	0.035	0.106	0.006	0.776
HbA1c	0.02	0.342	−0.038	0.067
Log of insulin	0.071	<0.001	0.104	<0.001
Log of PAI-1 activity	0.08	<0.001	0.061	0.005
Log of PAI-1 antigen	0.080	<0.001	0.034	0.242
Log of CRP	0.179	<0.001	−0.010	0.621
Fibrinogen	0.093	<0.001	−0.021	0.315
Log of D-dimer	0.033	0.121	−0.014	0.509

To see if waist circumference, independent of BMI, or BMI independent of waist circumference, has the stronger association with a risk factor, the partial correlation coefficient should have significant absolute value and persist in the original direction consistent with common sense.

BP, blood pressure; AC ratio, urinary albumin/creatinine ratio; PAI-1, plasminogen-activator inhibitor 1; CRP. C-reactive protein.