The association of metabolic health obesity with incidence of carotid artery plaque in Chinese adults

Associations between sleep characteristics, chronotype and body mass index among Chinese college freshmen

Research indicates that sleep problem is a behavioral risk factor of obesity. However, few research have applied a multi-dimensional approach to investigate the relationship between sleep health and adiposity. Therefore, the current study aimed to examine the associations of sleep characteristics (duration, quality) and chronotype with overweight/obesity as measured by body mass index. Data were obtained from 2014 college students from the Dali University in the Yunnan province of China in the year 2021. Sleep characteristics and chronotype were measured using self-reported questionnaires. The presence of overweight/obesity was assessed by anthropometric measurements. Multiple logistic regression models and restricted cubic spline hazard models were established to examine associations between sleep characteristics, chronotype and adiposity. After adjusting for demographic characteristics and other obesity-related behavioral risk factors, evening type was positively associated with overweight/obesity, and an L-shaped dose-effect relationship was observed between chronotype scores and the presence of overweight/obesity. However, sleep duration and quality were not associated with the presence of overweight/obesity in the logistic regression models and restrictive cubic splines models. This study indicated that Chinese college students who had the evening chronotype were more likely to be affected by overweight/obesity. Chronotype as an important dimension of sleep health should be incorporated in obesity intervention programs.

The association between inflammatory biomarkers and carotid artery plaque in normal-weight and metabolically healthy Chinese adults: a cross-sectional study

Existing evidence has indicated a role of inflammation in the development of carotid artery plaque (CAP). We thus evaluated the association between inflammation and CAP in a population with normal body weight and metabolically healthy status. A total of 8050 normal-body-weight and metabolically healthy participants (2613 men and 5437 women, aged 40.5 ± 11.3 y) were included in this study. Inflammatory status was evaluated by three parameters: serum hs-CRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), WBC (white blood cell) count, and NLR (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio). CAP was detected by ultrasound B-mode imaging. Clinical data were abstracted from medical records. Metabolically healthy status was defined as no history of metabolic diseases and normal blood pressure, fasting blood glucose level, hemoglobin A1c level, lipid profile, and liver ultrasonographic findings. The serum level of hs-CRP, but not WBC or NLR, was associated with the risk of CAP after adjustment for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin A1c, lipid profile, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. The adjusted odds ratio for the risk of CAP was 2.71 (1.64, 4.46) for participants with a high level of hs-CRP (≥3 mg/L), compared with those with a low level (<1 mg/L). Each unit increase in hs-CRP was associated with a 24% higher risk of CAP (OR = 1.24; 95% CI: 1.12, 1.37). Inflammation was associated with the risk of CAP even in individuals with a normal body weight and metabolically healthy status.

Association between Metabolic Phenotypes of Body Fatness and Incident Stroke: A Prospective Cohort Study of Chinese Community Residents

This study aimed to assess the association of body mass index (BMI)-based and waist circumference (WC)-based metabolic phenotypes with the risk of stroke among Chinese community residents. A total of 34,294 participants (mean ± standard deviation age: 56.05 ± 11.26 years) with no previous stroke diagnosis history were included in this cohort study. BMI-based metabolic phenotypes were classified into eight groups: metabolically healthy and normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy and underweight (MHUW), metabolically healthy and overweight (MHOW), metabolically healthy and obese (MHO), metabolically unhealthy and normal weight (MUNW), metabolically unhealthy and underweight (MUUW), metabolically unhealthy and overweight (MUOW), and metabolically unhealthy and obese (MUO). WC-based metabolic phenotypes were classified into four groups: metabolically healthy and normal WC (MHNWC), metabolically healthy and oversized WC (MHOWC), metabolically unhealthy and normal WC (MUNWC), and metabolically unhealthy and oversized WC (MUOWC). The association of these phenotypes with developing stroke events was examined using proportional hazards models. A total of 546 cases of first-stroke onset were recorded over a median follow-up time of 4.97 years. Compared with the reference group, the obesity phenotypes showed higher risks for stroke. The adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of MHUW, MHOW, MHO, MUNW, MUUW, MUOW, and MUO phenotypes were 1.01 (0.41, 2.49), 1.47 (1.09, 2.00), 1.33 (0.80, 2.22), 2.49 (1.87, 3.30), 3.92 (1.44, 10.72), 2.14 (1.64, 2.79), and 2.60 (1.91, 3.55), respectively. The adjusted HRs (95% CIs) of MHOWC, MUNWC, and MUOWC were 1.41 (1.02, 1.94), 2.25 (1.76, 2.87), and 2.16 (1.63, 2.87), respectively. The metabolic phenotypes defined by an alternative definition all showed significant positive associations (except for MHUW), with the adjusted HR ranging from 1.51 to 3.08 based on BMI and from 1.68 to 2.24 based on WC. The risk of stroke increased with the increase in metabolic abnormality numbers in different BMI and WC groups (all p trend < 0.001). The present study suggests that maintaining normal body weight or WC and improving metabolic health are of great significance in preventing cerebrovascular diseases.

Association between obese phenotypes and risk of carotid artery plaque among chinese male railway drivers

BACKGROUND

China has the world's highest rail transportation network density, and the prevalence of obesity among railway workers in China is more than twice that of adults in the world. Carotid artery plaque (CAP) is a simple and noninvasive predictor of early atherosclerosis, while the association between different obese phenotypes and CAP risk among Chinese male railway drivers is unclear.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study was performed among 8,645 Chinese male railway drivers. Obese phenotypes were assessed based on the obesity status (the body mass index ≥ 28 kg/m² as obesity vs. < 28 kg/m² as non-obesity) and metabolic status (metabolically healthy vs. metabolically unhealthy). Metabolically unhealthy was defined as the presence of at least one dysfunction, including elevated blood pressure, elevated fasting blood glucose, elevated triglyceride, and reduced high-density-lipoprotein cholesterol. Four obese phenotypes were defined based on the body mass index and metabolic status, i.e., metabolically healthy non-obesity (MHNO), metabolically healthy obesity (MHO), metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO), and metabolically unhealthy non-obesity (MUNO). Multivariable logistic regression was employed to estimate the association between different obese phenotypes and the risk of CAP. Subgroup analysis was performed to examine the variation of the association by age, circadian rhythm disorders, and history of smoking and drinking.

RESULTS

The prevalence of CAP among male railway drivers in MHO, MUO, MUNO, and MHNO was 8.75%, 18.67%, 17.82%, and 5.36%, respectively. Compared to those with MHNO, an increased risk for CAP was observed among those with MHO (OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 0.82, 5.10), MUO (OR = 1.78, 95% CI:1.44, 2.21), and MUNO (OR = 2.20, 95% CI: 1.67, 2.89). The subgroup analysis showed that both of the metabolically unhealthy groups (MUNO and MUO) aged < 45 years were prone to a higher risk of CAP (for the MUNO group, OR = 4.27, 95% CI:2.71, 7.10; for the MUO group, OR = 4.00, 95%CI: 2.26, 7.17).

CONCLUSION

The obese phenotypes are associated with CAP risk in male railway drivers, especially those with metabolically unhealthy conditions aged < 45 years.