Obesity and morbid obesity associated with higher odds of hypoalbuminemia in adults without liver disease or renal failure

Figures & data

Table 1 Sample characteristics

Variable	Total (n = 122)
Nationality, n (%)
Saudi	75 (61.5)
Non-Saudi	47 (38.5)
Sex, n (%)
Male	27 (22.1)
Female	95 (77.9)
Age, M (SD)	50.11 (15.48)
BMI, M (SD)	30.91 (8.15)
Obese, n (%)	60 (49.2)
Morbidly obese, n (%)	16 (13.1)
Albumin level, M (SD)
Total sample	36.24 (4.69)
Not overweight or obese	38.00 (4.26)
Overweight	38.35 (4.08)
Obese	34.57 (4.71)
Morbidly obese	33.81 (3.71)
Low albumin level (<34 g/L), n (%)
Yes	38 (31.1)
No	84 (68.9)

Note: The table shows M and SD values or counts (n) and percentages (%).

Abbreviations: M, mean; SD, standard deviation; BMI, body mass index.

Table 2 Unadjusted and adjusted associations of obesity and morbid obesity with hypoalbuminemia (n = 122)

Primary predictors	Unadjusted OR (95% CI)	Adjusted OR (95% CI)a
Obesity status
Obese	3.79 (1.66–8.76)**	4.10 (1.50–11.27)**
Not obese	1	1
Adjusted R ^2	0.12	0.28
Morbid obesity status
Morbidly obese	4.64 (1.55–13.95)**	6.94 (1.91–25.23)**
Not morbidly obese	1	1
Adjusted R ^2	0.10	0.29

Notes: Hypoalbuminemia is defined as serum albumin <34 g/L, obese status is defined as BMI ≥30 kg/m² and morbidly obese status is defined as BMI ≥40 kg/m².

a Models adjusted for potential confounders: age, sex, diabetes, prediabetes, nephrotic syndrome, and diabetic nephropathy.

** P-value < 0.01.

Abbreviations: OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index.