The association between indices of obesity and common clinical measures in adults with and without type 2 diabetes

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine if there are any differences in anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, blood pressure and body shape between diabetics and non-diabetics. DESIGN AND METHODS: This cross-sectional study comprised 309 subjects with 91 males and 218 females; there were 217 diabetics and 92 non-diabetics. The sample was taken from three hospitals in Trinidad. Lipid profile and blood pressure were taken from each facility’s physicians’ notes while anthropometric measurements were taken from the patients themselves. RESULTS: The diabetic group had elevated body mass index, and waist to hip ratios were significantly higher (p<0.05) when compared to non-diabetics. There was no significant difference in lipid profile and blood pressure between diabetics and non-diabetics. As age increased, the prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus was higher. Of the 217 diabetics, 173 were of East Indian descent. With regards to gender, more males were found to be diabetics resulting from having an android body shape as compared to females (gynoid body shape). It was deduced that waist to hip ratio was the best indicator of type 2 diabetes mellitus based on the area under the curve analysis. CONCLUSION: Of all the anthropometric measurements used, waist to hip ratio was found to be the most effective indicator of type 2 diabetes mellitus in Trinidadians, while body mass index was found to be the least.