ASSOCIATION BETWEEN BODY ROUNDNESS INDEX AND METABOLIC RISK FACTORS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE AMONG ACTIVE-DUTY MILITARY PERSONNEL IN THAILAND
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55374/jseamed.v10.267Keywords:
body roundness index, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemiaAbstract
Background: The body roundness index (BRI), which combines waist circumference (WC) and height, is a promising measure of body shape and central obesity. Active-duty members of the Royal Thai Army (RTA) showed an increase in metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) from 2017 to 2021.
Objective: The study aimed to analyze health examination data of RTA personnel nationwide to evaluate the association between BRI and metabolic risk factors for CVD and assess the effect measure modification of sex on this association.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study in RTA personnel aged 20 to 60 years using health examination data in 2022. BRI was calculated from WC and height and categorized into four groups based on quartiles (1-4). Metabolic risk factors for CVD were defined as having at least one of the following: high blood pressure (BP) (≥ 140/90 mmHg), hyperglycemia (fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL), high total cholesterol (TC) (≥ 240 mg/dL), hypertriglyceridemia (≥150 mg/dL), and hyperuricemia (≥ 7 mg/dL for men and ≥ 6 mg/dL for women).
Results: A total of 109,821 RTA personnel were included in the analysis. The overall mean BRI was 3.5 (±1.2), with quartile-specific means of 2.2 (Q1), 3.0 (Q2), 3.6 (Q3), and 5.0 (Q4). Multivariable logistic regression revealed significant associations between BRI and metabolic risk factors for CVD: high BP (adjusted prevalence ratio [APR] 1.18, 1.28, 1.38 for Q2, Q3, Q4), hyperglycemia (APR 1.12, 1.31, 1.67), high TC (APR 1.21, 1.33, 1.25), hypertriglyceridemia (APR 1.27, 1.50, 1.59), and hyperuricemia (APR 1.11, 1.24, 1.26), all compared to Q1 (p-trend < 0.001). Higher BRI quartiles were associated with a greater likelihood of presenting composite metabolic risk factors, especially in the fourth quartile (APR 1.18 for men, 1.23 for women; p for interaction < 0.001).
Conclusion: Our results demonstrate that, among active-duty RTA personnel, a higher BRI is associated with a greater number of metabolic risk factors for CVD. BRI, a measure of central adiposity, is a useful tool for identifying individuals at increased risk of CVD.
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