Evaluation of the Relationship between Neck Circumference and Metabolic Parameters in Women with Insulin Resistance

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between neck circumference (NC), other anthropometric measurements, and metabolic parameters in women with insulin resistance (IR).
METHODS: This study is a descriptive study carried out with volunteer female patients with IR who applied to the obesity outpatient clinic at a tertiary hospital. Patients with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥2.5 were included. A demographic questionnaire was applied, and anthropometric measurements, such as height, weight, body fat mass, body muscle mass, NC, waist circumference (WC), hip circumference, and middle-upper arm circumference, and body mass index (BMI), were all carried out by the researchers. Metabolic parameters were obtained from the patients’ files after the necessary permission had been received.
RESULTS: A total of 105 patients were included in this study. The mean NC was found to be 37.2±3.1 cm. NC showed a moderately positive correlation with BMI, WC, and body muscle mass (kg) (r=0.568, p<0.001; r=0.572, p<0.001; and r=0.589, p<0.001, respectively). It was also found that NC correlated positively with C-peptide, HOMA-IR, and triglyceride (r=0.194 p=0.048; r=0.199 p=0.043; and r=0.201, p=0.040, respectively). An association was found between NC and HOMA-IR after adjusting for age, triglyceride, total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol with multiple linear regression analysis (p=0.027).
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the NC of women with IR has a correlation with other anthropometric measurements as well as some metabolic parameters. When consulting IR patients, all anthropometric measurements should be recorded, including NC.