title: Sex-specific vs. unisex body mass indices as predictors of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in older adults.
abstract: In order to examine sex differences in the association of obesity with the risk of non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) when using the body mass index (BMI), we compared unisex body mass index classifications with sex-specific categories, as defined by the Metropolitan Life Tables, based on their utility in predicting the 12-year incidence of NIDDM in men and women. The present analysis included all 747 men and 969 women from a defined older caucasian population in Rancho Bernardo, California, who were 40 years of age or older at the baseline examination in 1972-1974 and who had complete diabetes-related data available then and between 1984-1987. The 12-year age-adjusted incidence rates for NIDDM increased with increasing BMI among women (all steps significant), but was significantly increased only in the most obese category of men (relative risk (RR) = 2.3, P less than 0.05 for men; RR = 3.8, P less than 0.001 for women). Men and women had nearly identical rates of NIDDM in this obese category. When identical (unisex) BMI cutpoints were used, results were the same; (RR = 2.4, P less than 0.05 for men; RR = 3.1, P less than 0.01 for women). These data indicate that unisex and sex-specific cutpoints for BMI identify the same sex-specific patterns of association between obesity and risk of NIDDM.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Diego, Department of Community and Family Medicine, La Jolla 92093.
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Holbrook
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Wingard
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Barrett-Connor
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors