Association between Obesity and Peripheral Arterial Diseases among Non-smokers: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: Obesity, especially abdominal obesity, is known to be a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) is associated with obesity, and it is diagnosed using the Ankle-brachial Index (ABI). While the links between the ABI and cardiovascular diseases, such as myocardial infarction and stroke, are well established, its association with obesity has been studied less extensively. Aim: The present study was undertaken to study the association between Body Mass Index (BMI), Waist-hip Ratio (WHR), Sagittal Abdominal Diameter (SAD) with ABI in Non-smokers and compare the results between obese and non-obese groups. Materials and Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted from January to June 2018 with 160 nonsmoking adults aged between 25 to 45 years, at the Lifestyle Laboratory in the Department of Physiology at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. The participants underwent a thorough assessment, during which their height, weight, Waist Circumference (WC), hip circumference, and SAD were measured. Body Mass Index (BMI) and WHR were calculated for all individuals. The LifeDop 150R hand-held Doppler device and Diamond mercury sphygmomanometer were utilised to measure Ankle and Brachial Blood Pressure and to calculate the ABI. Statistical analyses included a t-test for comparing the two groups and a Chi-square test to examine the relationship between the two groups. Results: In the present study, 160 non-smoking, non-diabetic, non-hypertensive adults aged between 25 to 45 years were examined, consisting of 132 females and 28 males. A significant association was found between the ABI and BMI when categorised as normal or abnormal BMI, but not when classified as normal, overweight, or obese. The obese and non-obese groups as per their WHR and SAD did not show a significant association with ABI. Conclusion: In the present study, a significant association was found between obesity and PAD, as measured by BMI and ABI. Hence the relationship between obesity and changes in ABI values warrants extensive study