Correlation Between HbA1c and Body Mass Index Among Patients with High Lipid Profile Attending Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare Hospital in Saudi Arabia

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Dyslipidemia is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and stroke. Obesity and elevated HbA1c levels are both risk factors for cardiovascular disease. The primary objective of this study was to examine the relationship between HbA1C and body mass index (BMI) among patients with high lipid profiles. METHODS: This retrospective, hospital-based study was conducted at Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare Facilities. Data were extracted from medical health records and included demographics, lipid profiles, and HBA1c measurements. The study included 2368 non-diabetic participants, and DATAtab was used to analyze the data. RESULTS: The participants were 57.05% male and 78.42% Saudi. The mean age was 41.48±12.1 years, and the mean body mass index (BMI) was 28.44±5.53. There was a statistically significant relationship between the use of lipid lowering medicine and HbA1c (P<0.001). There was a very weak positive but statistically significant relationship between HbA1c and BMI (r = 0.18, P<0.001). HbA1c and systolic blood pressure appeared to have a statistically significant positive association (r = 0.16, P< 0.001). There was no correlation between HbA1c and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), total cholesterol (TC), or diastolic blood pressure. There was an inverse correlation between HbA1c and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) (r = -0.11, P< 0.001). Regression was performed using a linear multivariable analysis with HbA1c as the dependent variable and age (B 0.192, P<0.001), BMI (B 0.119, P<0.001), HDL (B -0.058, P<0.005), triglyceride (B 0.093, P<0.001), lipid-lowering medication (B 0.104, P<0.001), and systolic BP (B 0.060, P< 0.003) as independent variables.  CONCLUSION: The results indicated that HbA1c is linked to BMI, age, systolic blood pressure, triglycerides, and HDL-C levels. There was no correlation between HbA1c and LDL-C, TC, and diastolic blood pressure.