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. 2021 Nov 3;115(3):833–842. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqab364

TABLE 3.

Adjusted difference of semen quality parameters per 5 cm increase in male waist circumference within categories of BMI1

BMI, kg/m2 P value for interaction
Semen quality parameters 18.5 ≤ BMI < 25 ≥25
Number of semen samples 229 442
Number of males 89 180
Sperm concentration (%) 0.24
 Model 1 −13.06 (−27.12 to 1.01) −2.30 (−5.79 to 1.19)
 Model 2 −24.76 (−41.20 to −8.33) −4.16 (−8.06 to −0.26)
 Model 3 −22.01 (−40.18 to -3.85) −3.54 (−7.93 to 0.85)
Total sperm count (%) 0.16
 Model 1 −11.29 (−23.84 to 1.27) −1.65 (−5.96 to 2.66)
 Model 2 −23.12 (−38.77 to -7.47) −2.45 (−7.33 to 2.43)
 Model 3 −22.05 (−37.04 to -7.06) −0.65 (−5.69 to 4.38)
Sperm motility (% motile) 0.47
 Model 1 −2.41 (−5.48 to 0.67) −0.43 (−1.43 to 0.57)
 Model 2 −4.39 (−8.12 to −0.66) −0.72 (−1.96 to 0.51)
 Model 3 −5.15 (−8.96 to −1.34) −0.58 (−2.02 to 0.86)
Progressive motility (%)2 0.61
 Model 1 −1.42 (−3.48 to 0.64) −0.27 (−1.05 to 0.51)
 Model 2 −2.21 (−4.77 to 0.35) −0.48 (−1.36 to 0.40)
 Model 3 −3.09 (−5.68 to −0.5) −0.43 (−1.43 to 0.57)
Sperm morphology (% normal)3 0.85
 Model 1 −0.30 (−0.73 to 0.14) −0.03 (−0.21 to 0.15)
 Model 2 −0.62 (−1.15 to −0.09) −0.05 (−0.24 to 0.15)
 Model 3 −0.74 (−1.32 to −0.16) −0.02 (−0.25 to 0.22)
1

Sperm concentration and total count data were log-transformed to achieve normality. Thus, estimates represent percentage differences for total count and concentration and absolute differences for all other semen parameters. All analyses were conducted using cluster-weighted generalized estimating equations. Model 1 was adjusted for age (continuous), race (White, non-White), education (high school or some college, college, graduate), smoking status (ever, never), history of varicocele (yes, no) and abstinence time (<2 days, 2–3 days, 3–4 days, and ≥4 days). Model 2 was adjusted for the variables in Model 1 plus BMI (continuous). Model 3 was adjusted for the variables in Model 2 plus height (continuous).

2

Contains data from 658 samples because an evaluation on progressive motility was not performed for all samples.

3

Contains data from 639 samples because a morphologic evaluation was not performed for all samples.