Association of Random Blood Sugar with Body Mass Index and Central Adiposity Among Adults Attending a Non-Communicable Diseases Clinic of a Tertiary Care General Hospital in Western India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is widely used in non-communicable disease (NCD) screening, yet Asian Indians accumulate central fat at relatively low BMI. We examined the association of BMI and central adiposity indices with random blood sugar (RBS) among adults attending an NCD clinic in Western India.
Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 100 adults aged 30–70 years attending the NCD clinic of a tertiary care general hospital were studied. BMI, waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were derived from measured anthropometry and classified using Asian Indian cut-offs. Associations with RBS were assessed by correlation and age- and sex-adjusted linear regression.
Results: Mean age was 42.97 ± 9.32 years; 51% were male. Mean BMI was 24.27 ± 4.30 kg/m² and mean RBS was 106.62 ± 16.77 mg/dL; 63% had BMI ≥23 kg/m², 63% had abdominal obesity and 73% had WHtR ≥0.5. BMI was not significantly associated with RBS (r = 0.139, P = 0.169; adjusted β = 0.449 mg/dL per kg/m², 95% CI −0.326 to 1.223, P = 0.253). WC (r = 0.246, P = 0.014; adjusted β = 0.337 mg/dL per cm, 95% CI 0.017 to 0.657, P = 0.039) and WHtR (r = 0.299, P = 0.002; adjusted β = 6.16 mg/dL per 0.1 unit, 95% CI 1.00 to 11.32, P = 0.020) were positively associated with RBS. Among participants with BMI <23 kg/m², 37.8% had abdominal obesity.
Conclusion: Central adiposity, particularly WHtR, was more closely associated with RBS than BMI. WC and WHtR should complement BMI in NCD-clinic screening.