# Association of arm circumference with the prevalence of gallstones in United States adults: a retrospective analysis on US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

## TL;DR

This study found that higher arm circumference is linked to a higher prevalence of gallstones in U.S. adults, suggesting a potential role in health assessments.

## Contribution

The study is the first to demonstrate a positive linear association between arm circumference and gallstone prevalence in a large U.S. population.

## Key findings

- Each centimeter increase in arm circumference was linked to an 8% rise in gallstone prevalence.
- The relationship was consistent across most subgroups, showing a positive linear trend.
- Subtle differences were observed in subgroup analyses, but the overall association remained strong.

## Abstract

Arm circumference (AC) is a measure of nutritional status and an indicator of the risk of developing diseases, such as metabolic disorders. However, its relationship with the prevalence of gallstone disease (GS), a metabolic disorder, is unknown. Consequently, this research sought to investigate the relationship between AC and the prevalence of GS among the general adult population in America.

Participant data were extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2017–2020 cycle. GS was defined based on self-reported medical history. AC was measured following standardized protocols as the primary exposure variable. Multivariable logistic regression models were employed to assess the association between AC and GS. Dose–response relationships were evaluated using generalized additive models with smoothed curve fitting, and subgroup analyses were conducted to explore effect modification by key covariates such as age, sex, race, hypertension, diabetes, and body mass index.

Overall, a total of 8,081 participants were included in this study, with 849 reporting a history of GS. After accounting for potential confounders, we discovered that each centimeter increase in AC was linked to an 8% rise in the prevalence of GS (Odd ratio = 1.08, 95% confidence interval: 1.07–1.10). Dose–response curves demonstrated a positive linear relationship between AC and the prevalence of GS, which, according to the results of the subgroup analyses, was consistent in the vast majority of subgroups, although there were subtle differences.

AC exhibited a linear and positive association with the prevalence of GS. Although a causal relationship between AC and the prevalence of GS could not be established, our study provides strong new support for the potential role of AC in the health assessments of adult populations.