Abstract
BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a prevalent condition associated with increased cardiometabolic risk. Despite its clinical significance, the relationships between anthropometric indices and metabolic markers-particularly in a gender-specific context-remain inadequately explored. METHODS: This retrospective study included 104 patients diagnosed with MetS between 2016 and 2022. Anthropometric indices, including body roundness index (BRI), body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), and weight-to-waist index (WWI), were analyzed for their associations with metabolic markers reflecting insulin resistance and glucose metabolism: fasting blood glucose (FBG), fasting insulin (FIns), and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). These markers represent key components of MetS, although other diagnostic elements such as dyslipidemia and hypertension were beyond the scope of this analysis. Gender-specific subgroup analyses were conducted for 57 female and 47 male patients. RESULTS: Significant differences in anthropometric and metabolic characteristics were observed between genders. Male patients exhibited higher BMI (40.4 [37.5, 44.2] vs. 37.2 [33.6, 40.3], p = 0.022), waist circumference (128.0 [120.2, 137.5] cm vs. 115.0 [106.0, 120.0] cm, p < 0.001), and FIns levels (22.8 [16.4, 29.5] μIU/mL vs. 17.8 [15.0, 23.4] μIU/mL, p = 0.107). Correlation analyses revealed that BMI and BRI were strongly associated with HOMA-IR and FIns in both genders, with stronger associations observed in males (e.g., BMI vs. FIns, r = 0.60, p < 0.001). WHtR was significantly correlated with metabolic markers in males but not in females. WWI showed limited correlations across both genders. DISCUSSION: This study highlights distinct gender-specific patterns in the relationships between anthropometric indices and metabolic markers in MetS patients. These findings underscore the importance of tailored strategies in managing MetS, particularly considering gender-based differences in clinical and metabolic profiles.