>> Scientific work allows for a more accurate assessment of body fat than traditional BMI and contributes to better prevention of cardiovascular disease in primary care settings.
>> The award highlights the study’s methodological quality, epidemiological relevance, and clinical applicability, which contributes to optimizing cardiometabolic risk stratification in the working population.
A team of researchers from the ADEMA University School, part of the ADEMA-Health Group of the University Institute of Health Research (IUNICS), in collaboration with the University of Castilla-La Mancha, has been recognized with the Best Article of the Year Award from the Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians (SEMERGEN).
The award recognizes the study entitled “Utility of different overweight and obesity scales to predict the presence of atherogenic dyslipidemia and lipid triad in 418,343 Spanish workers,” published in the journal Medicina de Familia. SEMERGEN (Elsevier, JCR), one of the most important in the field of primary care and preventive medicine.
The work, based on the doctoral thesis of ADEMA professor Hernán Paublini, together with researchers Dr. Arturo López, Daniela Vallejos and Dr. José Ignacio Ramírez-Manent, members of the ADEMA-Salud Group, in collaboration with Dr. Pedro J. Tárraga, from the University of Castilla-La Mancha, represents the most comprehensive population analysis carried out in Spain on the relationship between obesity and cardiometabolic risk.
The team examined data from 418,343 workers across a variety of sectors to compare the predictive capacity of different anthropometric scales, such as body mass index (BMI), waist-to-height ratio, the Deuremberg formula, and the CUN-BAE, in detecting atherogenic dyslipidemia (AD) and lipid triad (LT), two metabolic disorders linked to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease.
The results showed that all obesity scales were significantly associated with cardiometabolic risk, although the Deuremberg and CUN-BAE formulas were the most accurate, with area under the curve values greater than 0.81 in men and 0.80 in women.
According to the lead researcher, Professor Hernán Paublini, “This work demonstrates that indices that estimate body fat more comprehensively, beyond the traditional BMI, allow for more accurate detection of atherogenic risk and can improve cardiovascular disease prevention in primary care.”
According to the lead researcher, Professor Hernán Paublini, “This work demonstrates that indices that estimate body fat more comprehensively, beyond the traditional BMI, allow for more accurate detection of atherogenic risk and can improve cardiovascular disease prevention in primary care.”
The Spanish Society of Primary Care Physicians has highlighted the clinical applicability of this study and its contribution to improving cardiovascular prevention protocols. The authors emphasized the importance of incorporating body fat estimation formulas into occupational health examinations and routine checkups, in order to optimize cardiometabolic risk stratification and reduce the incidence of diseases such as type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis.
For Dr. Arturo López, Director of R&D and Scientific Publications at the ADEMA University School, “obesity is not just a matter of body weight, but a complex metabolic phenomenon that requires more precise assessment tools.” In his opinion, this type of research can transform the way prevention is approached, moving toward more personalized and effective strategies.
The SEMERGEN Award for the best article of the year is granted annually to studies that stand out for their methodological quality, epidemiological relevance, and contribution to the advancement of medical knowledge. In this edition, the jury particularly valued the robustness of the sample analyzed, the methodological rigor, and the direct applicability of the results to clinical practice.
The recognition reinforces the visibility of research conducted in the Balearic Islands and confirms ADEMA’s commitment to scientific excellence and interuniversity collaboration.