Annual prevalence and factors associated with body mass index documentation in German general practices—A retrospective cross‐sectional study
Authors' conclusion
BMI is not documented routinely by GPs in Germany. However, older age and the presence of several disorders increase the likelihood of recording this information. These findings underscore a need to prioritize obesity assessment and management in primary care settings in Germany.
Study context
- Population
- Patients aged ≥18 years who visited their GP in 2023, IQVIA Disease Analyzer database (>3000 office-based general practitioners (GPs) and specialists), Germany
- Participants
- 989,955 patients
- Outcome
- Prevalence of BMI documentation by GPs
- Follow-up
- 2023
Methodological detailsIQVIA Disease Analyzer database, multivariable logistic regression
- IQVIA Disease Analyzer database
- Multivariable logistic regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Patients with documented body mass index (BMI)
10.8%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Factors associated with BMI documentation (multivariable logistic regression)
| OR (95% CI) | ||
|---|---|---|
| 61-70 yearsStrongest associations with BMI documentation | 1.46 (1.43–1.49) | |
| ObesityStrongest associations with BMI documentation | 2.15 (2.01–2.21) | |
| Type 2 diabetes mellitusStrongest associations with BMI documentation | 2.12 (2.08–2.17) | |
| 0.512Odds ratio (log scale) |
| Outcome | Values |
|---|---|
| BMI documentation by age · 2023 | ≤40 years 7.3% · >70 years 13.8% |
| BMI documentation by number of health disorders · 2023 | No disorders 7.3% · >4 disorders 23.2% |
BMI documentation by age · 2023
- Prevalence increased with age
BMI documentation by number of health disorders · 2023
- Prevalence increased with number of health disorders
Factors associated with BMI documentation (multivariable logistic regression)
- No notable differences between sexes or insurance
Original publication
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