Relevance of Haematologic Parameters in Obese Women with or without Metabolic Syndrome.

Introduction: Obesity is rapidly growing problem worldwide. It predisposes to a variety of serious ailments including heart disease, diabetes mellitus, degenerative joint disease, atherosclerosis, etc. This is probably related to proinflammatory state associated with obesity due to release of several inflammatory mediators by the adipose tissue. The mediators are also probably responsible for metabolic syndrome associated with obesity. Besides, they may also induce significant changes in haematological parameters associated with inflammation.

Aim: Present study was undertaken to ascertain the relationship between obesity and leucocyte counts (particularly TLC and ANC) and find out if the changes induced in them are significant enough to be used as predictors of metabolic syndrome.

Materials And Methods: This case-control study was carried out on 243 female subjects allocated to four groups based on WHO and IDF criteria: Control, Overweight, Obese and Obese with Metabolic Syndrome. From all the subjects, data pertaining to obesity related anthropometric measurements, lipid profile, fasting plasma glucose levels and complete blood counts were collected. These were analysed statistically.

Results: There was a strong positive correlation between obesity related anthropometric measurements (BMI, BF, WC) and leucocyte counts - TLC and ANC - which were statistically highly significant; TNC and ANC also showed strong positive correlation with FPG. Mean values for TLC and ANC showed statistically significant difference between each and every group. The difference in the mean values of these parameters between obese and metabolic syndrome was highly significant. Both elevated FPG and BMI were independently associated with relative leucocytosis; when both of them were elevated simultaneously, the effect appeared to be potentiating.

Conclusion: Increase in obesity associated anthropometric measurements (BMI, WC, BF) is associated with relative leucocytosis within the physiological range. The changes in TLC and ANC are significant enough to be used as predictors of onset of metabolic syndrome in obese subjects.