Development of the Anthropometric Grouping Index for the Eastern Caribbean Population Using the Eastern Caribbean Health Outcomes Research Network (ECHORN) Cohort Study Data
Almodóvar-Rivera, I.A.; Rosario-Rosado, R.V.; Nazario, C.M.; Hernández-Santiago, J.; Ramírez-Marrero, F.A.; Nunez, M.; Maharaj, R.; Adams, P.; Martinez-Brockman, J.L.; Tessier-Sherman, B.; Nunez-Smith, M.
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 19(16)
2022
ISSN/ISBN: 1660-4601 PMID: 36012047 Document Number: 265737
Improving public health initiative requires an accurate anthropometric index that is better suited to a specific community. In this study, the anthropometric grouping index is proposed as a more efficient and discriminatory alternative to the popular BMI for the Eastern Caribbean population. A completely distribution-free cluster analysis was performed to obtain the 11 categories, leading to AGI-11. Further, we studied these groups using novel non-parametric clustering summaries. Finally, two generalized linear mixed models were fitted to assess the association between elevated blood sugar, AGI-11 and BMI. Our results showed that AGI-11 tends to be more sensitive in predicting levels of elevated blood sugar compared to BMI. For instance, individuals identified as obese III according to BMI are (POR: 2.57; 95% CI: (1.68, 3.74)) more likely to have elevated blood sugar levels, while, according to AGI, individuals with similar characteristics are (POR: 3.73; 95% CI: (2.02, 6.86)) more likely to have elevated blood sugar levels. In conclusion, the findings of the current study suggest that AGI-11 could be used as a predictor of high blood sugar levels in this population group. Overall, higher values of anthropometric measures correlated with a higher likelihood of high blood sugar levels after adjusting by sex, age, and family history of diabetes.