Sagittal Abdominal Diameter, Waist Circumference, and BMI as Predictors of Multiple Measures of Glucose Metabolism: An NHANES Investigation of US Adults

Abstract

The objective was to compare associations between sagittal abdominal diameter (SAD), waist circumference, and BMI to the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), along with fasting glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR, in a nationally representative sample of 3582 US adults. The study also analyzed the effect of multiple covariates on the anthropometric and glucose metabolism associations. A cross-sectional design was used. SAD was assessed using an abdominal caliper. All other data were collected following strict NHANES protocols. The OGTT was the primary variable used to index glucose metabolism. Fasting glucose, HbA1c, and HOMA-IR were also evaluated. Results showed that mean ± SE values were as follows: SAD: 22.3 ± 0.1 cm, waist circumference: 98.0 ± 0.4 cm, BMI: 28.6 ± 0.2 kg/m², OGTT: 113.9 ± 1.0 mg/dL, fasting glucose: 99.6 ± 0.3 mg/dL, HbA1c: 5.4 ± 0.01%, and HOMA-IR: 3.2 ± 0.1. Compared to waist circumference and BMI, SAD consistently emerged as the best predictor of glucose metabolism, before and after adjusting for the covariates, and with the sample stratified by gender, race, or age. SAD was not a better predictor of OGTT among normal-weight adults or non-Hispanic Black adults. Due to the ease of taking SAD measurements, we recommend that healthcare providers use this simple method to more precisely predict diabetes risk, especially among overweight and obese adults.