Screening for dysglycaemia using anthropometric indices in an adult population in Oman.

BACKGROUND

A previous community-based cross-sectional survey conducted in a semi-urban community revealed that 44% of people aged 18+ years manifest dysglycaemia, which appears to echo the national trend. There is lack of studies examining the role of anthropometric indices in people with dysglycaemia.

AIM: We explored the screening ability of anthropometric indices, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to detect dysglycaemia in the adult Omani population based on a community-based survey conducted in 2005. The potential of anthropometric indices to detect the presence of glycaemic disorder could aid in detection, prevention and health education.

METHODS

A total of 480 male and 795 female subjects aged 18+ years were included in this study. The prevalence of dysglycaemia was analysed using the American Diabetic Association criteria. Logistic regression approach and Receiver- Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed that mean values of age, BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR increased significantly from normoglycemic to pre-diabetic and further to diabetic in both sexes (P<0.0001). Dysglycemia showed an increasing prevalence with age. WHtR showed the highest sensitivity for detecting dysglycemia in all age groups compared to other anthropometric indices with sensitivity rate of 94.4% in ≥45 years, 88.6% in (25- 44) years and 45.6% in age group <25 years.

CONCLUSION

Among the anthropometric indices we investigated, WHtR was the best predictor of dysglycaemia among Omani adults aged > 25 years.