Article Text
Abstract
Objectives To characterise the sex-specific difference in the association between anthropometric changes and risk of diabetes in the general population in Canada.
Setting and participants From 2000 to 2008, Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP) invited Alberta’s residents aged 35–69 years to a prospective cohort study. A total of 19 655 diabetes-free ATP participants having anthropometrics measured at the baseline and follow-ups were included.
Design and outcome measures A longitudinal study design was used to examine the association between anthropometric changes and risk of diabetes and the sex difference in this association. Changes in weight, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-hip-ratio (WHR) were calculated as the difference between baseline and follow-up measures. Diabetes cases were identified using the Canadian National Diabetes Surveillance System algorithm with administrative healthcare data (2000–2015) linked to the ATP cohort. The sex-specific association between anthropometric changes and incidence of diabetes were examined by multivariable Cox regression models.
Results Changes in weight, BMI, WC and WHR over time were positively associated with incidence of diabetes in both men and women. The sex difference in risk of diabetes associated with 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in anthropometrics was 0.07 (95% CI −0.02 to 0.14) for weight, 0.08 (95% CI −0.03 to 0.17) for BMI, 0.07 (95% CI −0.02 to 0.15) for WC and 0.09 (95% CI 0.03 to 0.13) for WHR. Similar results were found in sex difference in the associations with changes per 5% and changes per categories (5% loss, ±5%, 5% gain).
Conclusions The positive association between anthropometric changes and risk of diabetes was generally stronger in men than in women. However, this sex-specific difference of approximately 10% of the total risk associated with anthropometric changes had limited significance. For population-based public health programmes aiming to control obesity and incidence of diabetes, it may not be necessary to set up sex-specific goals for anthropometric reduction.
- anthropometric changes
- diabetes
- sex difference
- longitudinal study
- Alberta’s Tomorrow Project
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Footnotes
Contributors PJR, JAJ and DTE conceived the idea, originated the study and together with MY designed the study methodology. MY, DTE, JEV and J-YX contributed to study design and defining data variables. MY conducted all analyses on data. MY, PJR, JAJ, DTE, JEV and J-YX jointly wrote manuscript. All authors revised the manuscript for intellectual content and approved final submission.
Funding This study is supported by funding provided to Alberta’s Tomorrow Project from the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Alberta Cancer Foundation, Alberta Cancer Prevention Legacy Fund (administered by the Government of Alberta), Alberta Health Services and School of Public Health Bridge Funding, University of Alberta.
Disclaimer The interpretation and conclusions contained herein are those of the researchers and do not necessarily represent the views of the Government of Alberta. Neither the Government nor Alberta Health express any opinion in relation to this study.
Competing interests None declared.
Ethics approval This study was approved by the Health Research Ethics Board of the University of Alberta (study ID Pro00058561).
Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
Data sharing statement There are no additional unpublished data available for data sharing.
Patient consent for publication Not required.