Association of platelet count with sarcopenic obesity in postmenopausal women: A nationwide population-based study

Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between platelet count and sarcopenic obesity in postmenopausal women.

Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted using nationally representative data. A total of 2810 postmenopausal women who participated in the 2008-2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in this study. Sarcopenic obesity was defined by a sarcopenia criterion and an obesity criterion. Platelet counts were divided into quartiles as follows: Q, 150-222; Q2, 223-257; Q3, 258-294, and Q4, 295-450 (10³/μl). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the association between platelet count quartile and sarcopenic obesity after adjusting for confounding factors.

Results: The prevalence of sarcopenic obesity in postmenopausal women was 14.8%. Compared to the lowest platelet quartile, the odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for sarcopenic obesity in the highest quartile were 1.98 (1.36-2.89) in the unadjusted model; 1.93 (1.31-2.83) after adjusting for age; and 1.65 (1.23-2.65) after adjusting for age, systolic blood pressure, homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), triglyceride, total cholesterol, total calorie intake, regular exercise, current smoking status, and education level.

Conclusions: Elevated platelet count (i.e. towards the upper end of the normal range) was significantly associated with sarcopenic obesity in postmenopausal women.

Keywords: Platelet count; Postmenopausal women; Sarcopenic obesity.