Correlation of insulin resistance by various methods with fasting insulin in obese

BACKGROUND: Several studies indicate that obesity is closely related to insulin resistance (IR). However, this relationship has not been adequately explored. AIMS: This study aims to evaluate the prevalence of IR among obese using some indirect methods for assessment of IR. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the correlation of fasting insulin (FI) with body mass index. We examined 100 obese and overweight. Anthropometric measurements were done for all individuals. Blood lipids parameters, glucose, and insulin were assayed after a 10 h fast. The indices McAuley (McA), homeostasis model assessments (HOMA), quantitative insulin sensitivity check index (QUICKI) were used to assess IR. RESULTS: In this study, the correlations of FI with McA, HOMA and QUICKI were significant (P < 0.05). FI test had significant sensitivity and specificity when compared with McA, HOMA and QUICKI indices. FI gives parallel results to the assessment of IR by other methods. Validity of FI was further analyzed by Cohen's kappa test and had a satisfactory agreement (χ =0.940). CONCLUSION: Altogether, this study suggested that FI was sensitive and also specific as McA in assessment of IR in obese. Thus, FI can be used as an easy test to detect IR also in obese.