Risk Assessment of Dyslipidemias, Hyperglycemia, Hyperuricemia, and Hypertension Utilizing Self-Reported Body Silhouettes

Abstract

Objective: Self-reported body silhouette is an anthropometric instrument that has been utilized as a screening tool for underweight, overweight, obesity, and other abnormal anthropometric variables. Herein, we analyzed the risk associated with the self-reported body silhouette in the scope of dyslipidemias, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and hypertension.

Methods: Adult participants of the Health Workers Cohort Study enrolled between March 2004 and April 2006 were included. Then, risk analysis was performed considering dyslipidemias as serum triglycerides, high total cholesterol, high LDL-C, low HDL-C, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and hypertension.

Results: A total of 2,297 males and 5,003 females were analyzed. The median ages of the studied population was 39 (30-49) and 41 (31-50) years for males and females, respectively. Overall, there is a stepwise increase in the risk of presenting dyslipidemias, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and hypertension as the self-reported body silhouette number increases, this tendency was observed in both males and females.

Conclusion: Self-reported body silhouette is a useful risk assessment tool for dyslipidemias, hyperglycemia, hyperuricemia, and hypertension in Mexican adults. Applications of questioners containing this silhouette might be considered a valuable public health instrument due to their low cost, relative simplicity, and absence of specialized equipment, training, or respondent knowledge.

Figure 1

Male and female drawings of the body silhouette.

Figure 2

Participants' selection.

Figure 3

Risk assessment of triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL, total cholesterol ≥200 mg/dL, LDL-C ≥100 mg/dL, and low HDL-C (males <40 mg/dL, females <50 mg/dL), for each self-reported body silhouette for both females and males. All models were adjusted by age.

Figure 4

Risk assessment of glucose ≥100 mg/dL, uric acid ≥7 mg/dL, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, and systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, for each self-reported body silhouette for both females and males. All models were adjusted by age.