Korean J Fam Pract.  2022 Sep;12(4):284-289. 10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.4.284.

Association of Abdominal Obesity and Hematological Parameters in Korean Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016–2018

• Mun H
• Pak SB

• KMID: 2533243
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.21215/kjfp.2022.12.4.284

Abstract

Background
The prevalence of obesity in Korea has gradually increased. Obesity is an accumulation of excessive adipose tissue that secretes interleukin-6 contributing to megakaryocytopoiesis. It was well known that platelets in the blood are produced by megakaryocytes through various differentiation processes. This study hypothesized that the hematological parameters would be increased in patients with abdominal obesity.
Methods
The analysis included 15,176 patients (6,639 male, 8,537 female) aged 19 years and older from the 2016–2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The relationship between abdominal obesity and hematological parameters was analyzed using multivariable logistic regression after the adjustment for age, smoking, drinking volume, exercise, and history of diabetes.
Results
The present study included 4,417 patients with abdominal obesity and 10,759 without abdominal obesity. The value of hematological parameters increased when both males and females had abdominal obesity. The odds ratios (OR) (95% confidence interval [CI]) for the highest platelet count quartile in patients with abdominal obesity was 1.427 (1.201–1.695) for male and 2.380 (2.020–2.804) for female (P<0.001). Among patients with abdominal obesity, the OR (95% CI) for the highest white blood cell count quartile was 2.280 (1.908–2.725) for male and 3.939 (3.325– 4.668) for female (P<0.001).
Conclusion
These findings suggest that abdominal obesity is positively associated with hematological parameters in Korean adults.

Keyword

Obesity; Obesity; Abdominal; Body Mass Index; Blood Platelets; Leukocyte Count