A body shape index (ABSI) and endometrial pathology

Abstract

A body shape index (ABSI) is an anthropometric measure that allows evaluating abdominal adiposity. Obesity is considered a risk factor for endometrial cancer (EC). Due to the increase in EC's incidence, identifying risk factors for endometrial pathology is essential in women's health. The study aimed to identify an association between EC/endometrial pathology and ABSI. We identified well-known risk factors for endometrial cancer and calculated ABSI in 408 women who were admitted to the Polish Mother's Memorial Hospital Research Institute between January 2016 and December 2017. Patients were divided into four subgroups: no endometrial pathology, endometrial polyps, hyperplasia without atypia, and hyperplasia with atypia/cancer. Statistical analysis showed a correlation between ABSI and the presence of cancer/atypical hyperplasia (Kruskal-Wallis test, p = .042). Additional multivariate analysis revealed that both ABSI and body mass index (BMI) z scores might potentially be associated with EC presence (ABSI z score quintiles Q1, Q2, Q3 vs. Q4, Q5: p = .039; BMI z score quintiles Q1, Q2, Q3 vs. Q4, Q5: p = .038). We found an association between cancer/atypical hyperplasia and ABSI. Further studies on ABSI are needed to establish ABSI as a risk factor for EC fully.

Keywords: endometrial cancer; obesity; risk factor.