Abstract
Background
Prediabetes and diabetes are associated with obesity, and the body roundness index (BRI) is a new obesity index that more accurately reflects body fat and visceral fat levels. The relationships between BRI and prediabetes and diabetes are currently unknown, and we aimed to investigate the relationships between BRI and the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes.
Methods
A cross-sectional study was conducted using data from the 2005–2020 NHANES, which included a total of 46,447 participants. We used restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis, logistic regression analysis, and subgroup analysis to assess the associations of BRI with prediabetes and diabetes. We assessed the ability of the BRI and body mass index (BMI) to identify prediabetes and diabetes patients via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and area under the curve (AUC) analysis and compared the results via the Delong test.
Results
Of the 46,447 participants aged 18 years and older included in the study, 15808 had prediabetes and diabetes. According to the fully adjusted models, a positive association was observed between BRI and the prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes (OR = 1.17, 95% CI: 1.14–1.20; P < 0.0001). Compared with those in the lowest quartile, individuals in the highest quartile of BRI had a 125% increased risk of prediabetes and diabetes (OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.88–2.57; P < 0.0001). The associations between BRI and prediabetes and diabetes persisted in the subgroup analyses. ROC analysis revealed that the BRI (AUC = 0.695) was a stronger predictor of prediabetes and diabetes than BMI was (AUC = 0.651).
Conclusions
An elevated BRI is associated with an increased prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes in the U.S. population, and the BRI is a stronger predictor of prediabetes and diabetes than BMI is. Maintaining an appropriate BRI is recommended to reduce the incidence of prediabetes and diabetes.