Association between different metabolic obesity phenotypes and colorectal adenoma

Obesity and metabolic abnormalities are independently and interactively associated with colorectal adenoma (CRA). This study aimed to investigate the association between different metabolic obesity phenotypes and CRA, and to assess whether this relationship is influenced by stratification based on age and sex.

A total of 2042 subjects were enrolled in this study. The patients were classified into four metabolic obesity phenotypes based on their body mass index (BMI) and metabolic status, including metabolically healthy non-obesity (MHNO), metabolically unhealthy non-obesity (MUNO), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO). Multiple logistic regression analysis and further subgroup analysis based on sex and age were performed to evaluate the association between the metabolic obesity phenotypes and the occurrence of CRA.

In the overall population, CRA was detected at significantly higher rates in both the MUNO and MUO phenotypes compared to the MHNO and MHO phenotypes. After adjusting for confounders, in the overall population, the MUNO (OR = 1.353, 95% CI: 1.099-1.666, P < 0.05) and MUO (OR = 1.558, 95% CI: 1.111-2.187, P < 0.05) phenotypes were identified as risk factors for the development of CRA compared to the MHNO phenotype. Subgroup analysis based on sex revealed that in female subjects, the MUNO phenotype (OR 1.694; 95% CI 1.243-3.308, p < 0.01) exhibited significantly elevated risks of CRA compared to those in the MHNO phenotype, whereas the MHO phenotype showed no significant differences. Furthermore, in the male subjects, no statistically significant differences were observed among the four groups. Subgroup analysis based on age revealed that under 60 years with the MUNO (OR = 1.648, 95% CI: 1.252-2.169, P < 0.01) phenotype and over 60 years with MUO (OR = 2.301, 95% CI: 1.252-4.348, P < 0.01) phenotype, had significantly increased risks of CRA.

Metabolically unhealthy phenotypes are associated with a higher risk of CRA incidence. Clinical screening for CRA should focus on metabolically unhealthy subjects.