Effect of Asian BMI on risk of chronic disease progression: A Singapore perspective. (December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kaur, Palvinder; Saxena, Nakul; Zhu, Zhecheng
• Is Part Of: Proceedings of Singapore healthcare. Volume 27:Number 4(2018)
• Page Start: 270
• Page End: 276
• Publication Date: 2018-12
• Subjects: Asian BMI -- CVD risk -- chronic disease progression -- diabetes -- Singapore; Medical care -- Singapore -- Periodicals; Medical care; Singapore; Periodicals; 362.1095957
• DOI: 10.1177/2010105818779400
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2010-1058

Abstract

Objectives: High body mass index (BMI) has been associated with increased mortality, healthcare utilization and costs. This study investigates the one-year chronic disease progression and risk of developing diabetes with varying cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks based on the Asian BMI categories. Methods: Patients with BMI information from 2008 to 2014 were included in the analysis ( N =23, 508). Patients were stratified into low, moderate, high and very high CVD risk categories. To study disease progression for patients with varying CVD risks, patients were further segmented into seven mutually exclusive disease states based on prevalence of chronic diseases and their complications. The categories were no known chronic disease, at-risk of developing chronic disease, one chronic condition, more than two chronic conditions, chronic conditions with complications, patients with cancer and death. Logistic regression was used to determine the association of CVD risk categories and risk of having diabetes. Results: High CVD risk patients had more chronic diseases in the following year as compared with low CVD risk patients. With reference to low CVD risk patients, patients in the moderate, high and very high risk categories had an odds ratio of 1.78 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.60 to 1.98), 2.84 (95% CI: 2.51 to 3.21) and 3.99 (95% CI: 3.30 to 4.82) for having diabetes after adjusting for age, gender and ethnicity. Conclusions: Higher BMI is associated with greater chronic disease progression in the following year. Diet control and lifestyle modifications should be encouraged to prevent people from shifting to higher BMI strata as this can be detrimental in the long run.