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. 2025 Apr 10;25(1):242.
doi: 10.1186/s12876-025-03832-z.

The best anthropometric indices to predict colon cancer

Kaihao Wang  1 , Anlei Wang  1 , Shaozu Wang  1 , Zhijiang Luo  1 , Yazhao Gong  1 , Xiaoliang Hao  1 , Guanglei Yang  2 , Shuqing Xu  3
Affiliations

The best anthropometric indices to predict colon cancer

Kaihao Wang et al. BMC Gastroenterol. .

Abstract

Background: Colon cancer is one of the most prevalent malignancies globally. Anthropometric data are widely accessible. However, numerous anthropometric indicators exist, and no study has identified the most reliable predictor for colon cancer. This study aims to identify the most effective anthropometric indicators for predicting colon cancer.

Results: Significant differences were observed in age, race, smoking, diabetes, hypertension, waist circumference, a body shape index (ABSI), Body Roundness Index (BRI), Conicity Index (ConI), Waist-to-Height Ratio(WHtR), and Weight-adjusted Waist Index(WWI) between colon cancer patients and controls (P < 0.05). ABSI (AUC: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.64-0.71), ConI (AUC: 0.68, 95% CI: 0.64-0.71), and WWI (AUC: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.63-0.70) were the most accurate anthropometric indices for predicting colon cancer. ABSI, ConI, and WWI demonstrated a strong correlation.

Conclusion: Analysis of NHANES data (2005-2018) identified ABSI, ConI, and WWI (AUC:0.67-0.68) as optimal anthropometric predictors of colon cancer, emphasizing abdominal obesity's clinical relevance. These cost-effective indices could enhance early screening in resource-limited settings.

Keywords: A body shape index; Anthropometric indices; Colon cancer; Conicity index; Weight-adjusted waist index.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Data collection for the NHANES was approved by the NCHS Research Ethics Review Board (ERB). An individual investigator utilizing the publicly available NHANES data do not need to file the institution internal review board (IRB). Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart. NHANES: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Formulas for calculating Anthropometric indices. ABSI: a body shape index. BRI: Body Roundness Index.ConI: Conicity Index. WHtR: Waist-to-Height Ratio. WWI: Weight-adjusted Waist Index. WC: Waist circumference. WT: Weight. HT: Height
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
ROC curves for anthropometric indices
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Correlation between different anthropometric indices. The size and color of the circles in the figure reflect the magnitude of the correlation coefficient
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