Screening for dysglycaemia using anthropometric indices in an adult population in Oman

A previous community-based cross-sectional survey conducted in a semi-urban community revealed that 44% of people aged 18+ years manifest dysglycaemia, which appears to echo the national trend. There is lack of studies examining the role of anthropometric indices in people with dysglycaemia.

We explored the screening ability of anthropometric indices, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) to detect dysglycaemia in the adult Omani population based on a community-based survey conducted in 2005. The potential of anthropometric indices to detect the presence of glycaemic disorder could aid in detection, prevention and health education.

A total of 480 male and 795 female subjects aged 18+ years were included in this study. The prevalence of dysglycaemia was analysed using the American Diabetic Association criteria. Logistic regression approach and Receiver- Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed.

The analysis revealed that mean values of age, BMI, WC, WHR and WHtR increased significantly from normoglycemic to pre-diabetic and further to diabetic in both sexes (P<0.0001). Dysglycemia showed an increasing prevalence with age. WHtR showed the highest sensitivity for detecting dysglycemia in all age groups compared to other anthropometric indices with sensitivity rate of 94.4% in ≥45 years, 88.6% in (25- 44) years and 45.6% in age group <25 years.

Among the anthropometric indices we investigated, WHtR was the best predictor of dysglycaemia among Omani adults aged > 25 years.