title: Clinical correlates of obesity in an inner-city adult medicine clinic.
abstract: This cross-sectional study was done to assess the association of obesity with multiple conditions in an inner-city adult medicine clinic. Data were gathered to assess the relationship of obesity to multiple variables. Logistic regression was used to adjust for age, gender, ethnicity and tobacco use. Of 2,081 patients, 62% were minorities; 41% lacked insurance, and 38% had Medicaid. Forty-two percent were obese, with 9% morbidly obese. Out of 25 conditions, 20 had statistically significant correlations with obesity (two-sided P < 0.05): four cardiovascular, two pulmonary, three musculoskeletal, three metabolic syndrome conditions (metabolic syndrome is defined by the presence of three or more of the following: Fasting glucose > 110 mg/dL, BP > 130/85, Waist circumference in men > 40 inches or in women > 35 inches, HDL < 40 mg/dL in men or < 50 mg/dL in women, triglycerides > 150 mg/dL), four other clinical conditions, multiple ED visits, multiple clinic visits, unemployment, and disability. Body mass index (BMI) predicted coronary artery disease (P < 0.001), stroke (P = 0.011) and peripheral arterial disease (P = 0.013), but these associations were no longer statistically significant after adjustment for hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia. In conclusion, obesity was associated with many diseases, as well as with healthcare utilization, unemployment and disability in this predominantly minority inner-city population.
authors.affiliation: St. Vincent's Medical Center, Bridgeport, USA. dr.shahla@gmail.com
authors.forename: Shahla
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yassir
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chopra
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Roush
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003237:Connecticut / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005006:Ethnicity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D011203:Poverty / Q000208:ethnology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014505:Urban Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*