Which modifiable, non-modifiable, and socioeconomic factors have more effect on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight and obese women?

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to assess which modifiable, non-modifiable, and socioeconomic factors are good predictors for cardiovascular risk in overweight and obese Iranian women.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This clinical cross-sectional study was conducted on 811 overweight and obese women of age 20-60 years in Islamic Republic of Iran. In this study, the dependent variables were fasting blood sugar (FBS) and lipid profile, and the independent variables were educational level, waist to hip ratio (WHR), body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), age, fasting glycemia, and diabetes.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis showed that the significant factors associated with FBS were age, BMI, education, and WHR, but the effect of age was more than that of others. For total cholesterol (TC), only glycemia had a significant effect [P = 0.004, odds ratio (OR) 1.9 vs. others independent variables' ORs]. Having diabetes, BMI ≥30 kg/m(2), and education ≤12 years were the significant factors associated with triglyceride (TG), but the effect of diabetes was more than that of others (OR: 2.7, 2.2, and 1.9 for diabetes, BMI, and education, respectively). The effect of age was more than that of other independent factors on low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). There was not any significant association between independent variables and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) in multiple logistic regression models.

CONCLUSION

Based on the obtained results, in clinic, for overweight and obese women, age, glycemia, and having diabetes can be considered as predictors for FBS, and LDL-C, TC, and TG, respectively.