Leukocyte related parameters in older adults with metabolically healthy and unhealthy overweight or obesity

Abstract

Abstract It remains unclear whether leukocyte-related parameters could be used as biomarkers to differentiate metabolically unhealthy overweight/obesity (MUO) from metabolically healthy overweight/obesity (MHO). We aimed to examine the differences in the distribution of leukocyte-related parameters between older adults with MHO and MUO and the correlations of leukocyte-related parameters with individual components of metabolic abnormality. In the Weitang Geriatric Diseases Study on older Chinese adults aged 60 years or above, 404 individuals with MHO and 480 with MUO contributed to the analysis. Overweight/obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI) of 25 kg/m2 or more. MHO and MUO were discriminated based on the Adult Treatment Panel III (ATP III) criteria. Leukocyte-related parameters were assessed using an automated hematology analyzer. All leukocyte-related parameters except monocytes were elevated in MUO group compared with MHO group (all P < 0.05). The prevalence of MUO increased by 24% with each 109/L increase of leukocytes after adjusting for confounders in the multiple-adjusted model (P < 0.01) and each unit elevation of other parameters except lymphocytes and monocytes were significantly associated with the presence of MUO (all P < 0.01). Trend tests revealed a linear trend for the association between MUO and all the leukocyte-related parameters (all P for trend < 0.05). Significant interactions between leukocyte-related parameters and sex on the presence of MUO were observed (all P value for interaction < 0.05). Higher leukocyte-related parameters were found in patients with MUO than those with MHO and were associated with higher prevalence of MUO which seems to be sex-dependent. Further studies are needed to see whether these parameters could be used as biomarkers for the screening or diagnosis for MUO in clinical or public health practice.