Association of Anthropometric Parameters with Elevated Fasting Blood Sugar among Filipino Adults Aged 18–65 years in Highly Urbanized Cities in the Philippines

Abstract

Background and Objective. Type II Diabetes Mellitus remains a pressing public health concern among Filipino adults, particularly prevalent in urban households belonging to the middle to richest wealth population. As body composition influences glucose metabolism, understanding the potential of anthropometric parameters is vital in predicting fasting blood sugar. This study aims to generate and find the most appropriate model that can detect likelihood of elevated FBS using different anthropometric parameters.

Methods. The data set from 2018-2019, 2021 Expanded National Nutrition Survey of Department of Science and Technology - Food and Nutrition Research Institute, consisting of 14,655 adults aged 18–65 years from 33 highly urbanized cities (HUCs) was used in this study. While controlling for study variables, multiple logistic regression was used to determine significant predictors affecting the fasting blood sugar (FBS) status of these adults.

Results. The above normal status of each anthropometric parameter, in the models for BMI (aOR=2.33; p<0.01), waist circumference (aOR=2.25; p<0.01), waist-hip ratio (aOR=3.11; p<0.01), waist-to-height ratio (aOR=2.58; p<0.01), was associated with increased likelihood for elevated FBS. Age, sex, blood pressure status, and being a 4Ps recipient were all significantly associated with elevated FBS across the four adjusted final models. While the waist circumference model had the highest and an acceptable correct classification rate of detecting elevated FBS (78.57%), the waist-hip ratio model had the best goodness of fit (F: 29.56; p<0.01).

Conclusion. There is no single anthropometric parameter that can truly discern the status of elevated FBS. However, it appears the use of waist circumference and waist-hip ratio have the potential to be an indicator especially in settings where the evaluation of the actual FBS of the individuals is not feasible. Future research suggests exploring possible interaction of BP, and FBS, diet quality and adequacy, and the effectiveness of having multiple anthropometric parameters in one model.