Anthropometric Indices as Long-Term Predictors of Diabetes in Impaired Fasting Glucose Metabolism: Findings in the PURE Study in Poland

Abstract

This study aimed to assess the predictive value of anthropometric measurements in impaired fasting glucose progression to type 2 diabetes (T2DM) after 9 years of follow-up in the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) study run in Poland. The study group consisted of 283 patients aged 54.3 ± 8.9 years who had impaired fasting glucose at baseline and completed a 9-year-long follow-up. We analyzed body weight, height, waist (WC) and hip (HC) circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), body mass index (BMI), and body adiposity index (BAI). Most individuals were overweight or obese according to BMI. Obesity occurred more often in men than women. The analysis highlighted the following three anthropometric parameters WHtR, BMI, and WC, each having equally good predictive power concerning the development of full-fledged T2DM in people with impaired fasting glucose. In conclusion, we confirmed the distinct harmfulness of obesity and pointed out the potential of easy-measured anthropometric parameters to self-control the risk of passing the impaired fasting glucose into T2DM.