Association between phase angle, body mass index and insulin resistance in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a cross-sectional study

<b>Background:</b> The purpose of this analysis was to investigate the associations between phase angle (PhA), body mass index (BMI) and insulin resistance (IR) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). <b>Methods:</b> The retrospective cross-sectional study included 200 T2DM patients treated during 2018 to 2019 in Zhongda Hospital Southeast University. PhA and other body composition indicators were measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Subjects were classified into four groups based on body composition: low phase angle and low body mass index (LPLB), low phase angle and high body mass index (LPHB), high phase angle and low body mass index (HPLB) and high phase angle and high body mass index (HPHB). <b>Results:</b> Overall, in the unadjusted model and minor, all adjusted models (unadjusted model, models 1-4), homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was higher in the LPHB group than in the LPLB group (<i>P</i> = 0.034). In the unadjusted model, Model 1 (adjustment for age), Model 2 (adjust for age+duration), Model 3 (adjust for age+duration+sex+UA+TG+TC) and Model 4 (adjust for age+duration+sex+UA+TG+TC+HDL+HbA1c), the adjusted ORs for participants were 4.4 (95% CI [1.72-11.24]), 4.41 (95% CI [1.73-11.27]), 4.75 (95% CI [1.83-12.32]), 2.93 (95% CI [1.04-8.23]) and 3.1 (95% CI [1.09-8.86]) respectively, compared to LPHB group. <b>Conclusions:</b> T2DM patients with the body composition of low phase angle and high body mass index exhibited the most severe degree and the highest risk of insulin resistance.