The waist-to-hip ratio is a superior predictor of complications in breast reconstruction: A prospective pilot study

Introduction

Breast reconstruction remains common. Identifying the key risk factors for preoperative counseling is key to improving surgical outcomes. The body mass index is a commonly used measure of preoperative risk but remains controversial. We propose that the waist-to-hip ratio, a measure of central adiposity, is superior to the body mass index in predicting complications.

Methods

A single surgeon’s breast reconstruction patients were prospectively analyzed from 2022–2023. Demographic data, medical comorbidities, and surgical variables were recorded, as were complications including infection, wound breakdown, and loss of reconstruction. Height, weight, waist circumference, and hip circumference were collected to calculate the waist-to-hip ratio, waist-to-height ratio, and body surface area. Statistical analysis and multivariate analysis were performed.

Results

One hundred patients were evaluated, 50 for alloplastic and 50 for autologous, abdominally based reconstruction. For alloplastic patients, 26% had complications, with a higher waist-to-hip ratio (0.96 v 0.88). On multivariate regression, the waist-to-hip was the only significant independent predictor of complications. For autologous reconstruction, again 26% had complications, with a higher waist-to-hip ratio (0.96 v 0.88). On multivariate regression, the waist-to-hip was the only significant predictor of complications. For both groups, waist-to-hip did not strongly correlate with other morphometric measures. Age and other morphometric measures were not predictive of complications for either set.

Conclusion

The waist-to-hip ratio is a superior predictor of surgical risk to the body mass index in our cohort and could be integrated in plastic surgery practices to improve outcomes.

Level of evidence

IV