Background: Waist to height ratio (WHtR) is a simple screening measure for identifying overweight and obesity. It was recently proposed that the WHtR may represent a better parameter of cardiovascular risk, when compared to simple anthropometric parameters.
Objective: To investigate the hemodynamic responses of treadmill exercise stress test (EST) in perimenopausal and menopausal women with new central obesity parameter as WHtR.
Material and Method: This is a cross-sectional study of 76 perimenopausal/menopausal women. Main indicators included
WHtR and hemodynamic parameters of treadmill EST. Statistical analysis was done by using Student’s t-test and Pearson correlation. The p-value was taken as significant at 5% confidence level (p<0.05).
Results: Seventy-six perimenopausal/menopausal women, with average age of 50.26+8.36 years. Perimenopausal/menopausal
women with lower WHtR values (<0.5) had different EST values in exercise duration time, functional capacity, rate pressure
product (RPP), and heart rate recovery (HRR) after treadmill EST when compared to women with greater WHtR (>0.5). No
correlations of WHtR with 5-year survival or average annual mortality.
Conclusion: WHtR measurement is a simple and timesaving screening measure for central obesity that can be used to
differential hemodynamic response in treadmill EST. WHtR >0.5 has abnormal hemodynamic response in HRR, which is associated with a strong adverse prognostic marker in premenopausal/menopausal population. Exercise capacity is lower in central obesity group.

Keywords: Waist to height ratio, Hemodynamic response, Treadmill exercise stress test, Perimenopausal women, Menopausal Women