Association between “a body shape index” (ABSI) with periodontitis in a hypertension population from the NHANES 2009–2014

Abstract

Abstract A body Shape index (ABSI), defined as waist circumference (WC)/(body mass index (BMI)2/3 × height1/2), is unique in that the ABSI is positively associated with visceral obesity and is independent of BMI. The ABSI has also been shown to be positively and linearly correlated with the amount of visceral adiposity in the general population and with all-cause and cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, it is uncertain whether ABSI is associated with periodontitis in hypertensive patients. A cross-sectional study of 2,482 hypertensive patients (mean age 65.2 ± 9.1 years) was conducted using the ABSI Z score, periodontitis as a dichotomous variable, the ABSI Z score as a continuous variable, and multiple covariates such as age, gender, and race. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression model, subgroup analysis with EmpowerStats (version 4.2), and curve transformation plots were generated. In multiple regression model analysis, ABSI Z score showed a significant positive association with periodontitis in the hypertensive population in all three models. When ABSI Z score was divided into low, moderate, and high three groups, we observed that those with the highest ABSI Z score had a 20% increased risk of periodontitis among people with hypertension (OR 1.2; 95% CI 1.0, 1.5; p = 0.046). We used smooth curve fitting to confirm the results and found that these results were still supported, and additional subgroup analyses showed that the positive association between ABSI Z score and periodontitis in hypertensive population was stable and consistent in the general population. The present cross-sectional investigation showed a positive association between ABSI Z score and periodontitis in a hypertensive population.

Keywords

• A body shape index
• ABSI Z score
• Periodontitis
• NHANES
• Cross-sectional study