Categorization of relative risk of diseases with relation to stress, body mass index and anthropometric markers: A cross-sectional study in general population of Karachi, Pakistan

This study aimed to evaluate stress among general population of Karachi, Pakistan and to categorize the relative risk of diseases through body mass index (BMI), as well as to categorize the relative risk of diabetes through questionnaire based scoring pattern. Study consisted of two phase study duration. Total 377 individuals were approached; only 269 individuals completed the study procedures. In phase-I, data was collected through standardized questionnaire of American Institute of Stress (AIS), to determine total stress scores (TSS). In phase-II, anthropometric markers (e.g., body weight, height, waist and body mass index) were measured, to evaluate the Relative Risk of Disease (RrD). With the aid of socio-demographic variables and questionnaire, the relative risk of diabetes mellitus (RrDM) was also quantified. 71% was the participation rate, in which 51.3% were male and 48.7% were female. Cronbach’s alpha (α) value was 69%. The mean scores of TSS (57.31±5.28) were moderate. Averages of body weight, height, waist and body mass index (BMI) were 164.6±13.5, 1.67±0.06, 35.75±2.5, 27.35±1.8, and RrDM (34.17±7.8), respectively. Through categorizing the RrD, 87.7% respondents were found to have increased risk, whereas, a least proportion were with high risk. Spearman R coefficient of gender variables showed indirect significant (p≤0.01) association with RrDM score. Pearson r coefficient of age variable showed direct significant (p≤0.01) association with RrDM score. Findings concluded that moderate increase of TSS with increase RrD leads to moderate existence of RrDM.   Key words: Diabetes mellitus, Karachi, body mass index, metabolic diseases, Pakistan, stress.