The association between obesity-related indicators and female infertility: the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2013-2018.

BACKGROUND

Infertility is a public health issue closely related to obesity. However, the relationship between obesity-related indicators and infertility is currently uncertain. The present study aimed to explore the association between obesity-related indicators and female infertility.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included data for 2,875 adult females aged 20-45 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2018. Logistic regression models, restricted cubic spline (RCS), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses were used to evaluate the relationship between obesity-related indicators [body shape index (ABSI), weight-adjusted waist index (WWI), body roundness index (BRI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), non-HDL cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (NHHR), relative fat mass (RFM), body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference (WC)] and female infertility.

RESULTS

Adult females were divided into five groups based on their ABSI, WWI, BRI, WHtR, NHHR, RFM, BMI, and WC. Individuals in the highest quintile for ABSI, WWI, BRI, WHtR, NHHR, RFM, BMI, and WC had a higher risk of infertility compared to those in the lowest quintile. The respective adjusted odds ratio values were 1.65 (95% confidence interval (CI), 1.14 to 2.42), 1.71 (95% CI, 1.15 to 2.57), 2.09 (95% CI, 1.39 to 3.19), 2.09 ( 95% CI, 1.39 to 3.19), 1.71 (95% CI, 1.14 to 2.59), 2.09 (95% CI, 1.39 to 3.19), 2.10 (95% CI, 1.40 to 3.18), and 2.28 (95% CI, 1.52 to 3.47). The p for trend values were 0.027, <0.001, <0.001, <0.001, 0.002, <0.001, <0.001, and <0.001after controlling for a series of confounding factors. RCS analyses showed a linear correlation between ABSI, WWI, BRI, WHtR, RFM, BMI, and WC and infertility (P nonlinear > 0.05). A nonlinear association was observed between NHHR and infertility (P nonlinear = 0.006). The ROC curve demonstrated that BRI, WHtR, RFM, and WC exhibited relatively high diagnostic efficiency for infertility, particularly among women aged 20-35 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The WHtR, RFM, WC, and BRI are superior to BMI in predicting and diagnosing infertility, particularly among individuals aged 20-35 years. Consequently, these indices show promise as more effective tools for identifying populations at an early risk of infertility. To confirm these findings, future studies, such as Mendelian randomization or cohort studies, are warranted.