Visceral fat area and red-blood-cell-related indices in adults with type 2 diabetes: Cross-sectional evidence of nonlinear associations

Table 4 Subgroup analyses of the associations of hematocrit 100, hemoglobin and red blood cell 100 with visceral fat area

	n	β (95%CI)	P value	P for interaction
HCT100
AGE				0.1218
< 60	784	0.02 (0.01, 0.04)	< 0.0001
≥ 60	396	0.01 (-0.01 to 0.03)	0.1969
Gender				0.0351
Female	438	0.01 (-0.01 to 0.02)	0.5088
Male	742	0.02(-0.01 to 0.03)	< 0.0001
BMI				0.1427
< 28	915	0.03 (0.02, 0.04)	< 0.0001
≥ 28	265	0.001 (-0.02 to 0.02)	0.9269
HbA1c				0.9179
< 7%	141	0.02 (-0.00 to 0.04)	0.1140
≥ 7%	1039	0.02 (0.01, 0.02)	< 0.0001
HGB
AGE				0.3283
< 60	784	0.07 (0.03, 0.11)	0.0003
≥ 60	396	0.04 (-0.01 to 0.10)	0.0976
Gender				0.0412
Female	438	0.01 (-0.04 to 0.06)	0.7775
Male	742	0.07 (0.04, 0.11)	0.0001
BMI				0.0123
< 28	915	0.10 (0.06, 0.14)	< 0.0001
≥ 28	265	-0.02 (-0.09 to 0.06)	0.6664
HbA1c				0.8998
< 7%	141	0.05 (-0.02 to 0.11)	0.1859
≥ 7%	1039	0.05 (0.03, 0.07)	< 0.0001
RBC100
AGE				0.0145
< 60	784	0.34 (0.21, 0.48)	< 0.0001
≥ 60	396	0.06 (-0.13 to 0.25)	0.5542
Gender				0.0202
Female	438	0.02 (-0.16 to 0.20)	0.8251
Male	742	0.30 (0.17, 0.43)	< 0.0001
BMI				0.0013
< 28	915	0.38 (0.23, 0.53)	< 0.0001
≥ 28	265	-0.10 (-0.37 to 0.16)	0.4463
HbA1c				0.7685
< 7%	141	0.16 (-0.07 to 0.38)	0.1659
≥ 7%	1039	0.18 (0.12, 0.25)	< 0.0001

Data are β coefficients with 95% confidence intervals from multivariable linear regression models. Each hematologic index (hematocrit 100, hemoglobin, red blood cell 100, and white blood cell) was the outcome variable, and visceral fat area (cm²) was the exposure. Models were adjusted for covariates as described in the methods (model 3). Missing glycated hemoglobin values were addressed using multiple imputation, allowing all subgroup analyses to include the full cohort (n = 1180). P for interaction was calculated by adding a multiplicative interaction term between visceral fat area and each subgroup variable. Hematocrit and red blood cell were multiplied by 100 for presentation. CI: Confidence interval; AGE: Advanced glycation end products; HCT: Hematocrit; BMI: Body mass index; HbA1c: Glycated hemoglobin; HGB: Hemoglobin; RBC: Red blood cell.