Mid Arm Circumference: An Alternate Anthropometric Index of Obesity in Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome

Aim: To evaluate alternate anthropometric index for obesity in type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Study Design: This is a cross sectional study.

Place and Duration of the Study: Department of Medicine, Kasturba medical college-hospital, Mangalore, Manipal university, between January 2012 - July 2015.

Methodology: We recruited 207 type 2 diabetic and 101 metabolic syndrome subjects with their age and sex matched controls. Anthropometric parameters like BMI, Waist circumference and mid arm circumference (MAC) were measured. Biochemical details were collected from case record.

Results: The mean differences in anthropometric and biochemical parameters were compared between cases and controls by independent T test. MAC was correlated with clinical parameters in control subjects by Karl pearson’s correlation and multiple linear regression analysis. There was significant difference in MAC between metS and their control subjects (31.35±4.21 vs 28.04±2.86, P<.001). There was significant positive linear correlation of MAC with BMI (P<.001), WC (P<.05), post prandial blood sugar (P<.05) and HbA1c (P<.05) in controls. Further multivariate analysis after adjusting for conventional risk factors showed a significant association of MAC with BMI (β=0.611, P<.001).

Conclusion: These findings show that MAC can be useful as an alternate index for obesity in South Indians.