Associations between weight-adjusted waist index and fractures: a population-based study

IntroductionThe weight-adjusted waist circumference index (WWI) is a novel obesity evaluation indicator that appears to be superior to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) in evaluating muscle and fat mass. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between WWI and fractures among adults.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, multivariate logistic regression and smoothed curve fitting were used to investigate linear and nonlinear associations between WWI and fractures, based on data from 28,679 adult participants in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999 to 2018.ResultsAfter adjusting for all covariates, the prevalence of hip/wrist/spine fractures among all participants was 1.09%, 8.87%, and 1.97%, respectively. A 1-unit increase in WWI was associated with a 5% increase in the odds of hip fractures [1.05 (1.01, 1.10)], and a 9% increase in the odds of spine fractures [1.09 (1.06, 1.13)], but not with the prevalence of wrist fractures [0.97 (0.94, 1.06)].ConclusionsHigher WWI was associated with an increased prevalence of hip fracture and spine fracture, but not wrist fracture.

Automated summary

This study investigated the association between weight-adjusted waist circumference index (WWI) and fractures among adults. Higher WWI was found to be associated with an increased prevalence of hip fracture and spine fracture, but not wrist fracture.