(1) Background: This study investigated the association between body mass index (BMI) categories and comorbidities in the context of a developing country, utilizing data from a nationwide health screening in Mongolia. (2) Methods: The study included 181,080 individuals (mean age 47.0 ± 15.3, 42.0% male) from the population-based general health screening. We counted the number of diseases from participants’ medical records based on ICD-10 codes, excluding those categorized under Z00-Z99 and codes indicating acute disorders, as well as individuals classified as underweight. (3) Results: Among study participants, the prevalence of two or more comorbidities was 4.2%. The weight distribution comprised 40.4% normal weight; 37.1% overweight; and 16.9%, 4.4%, and 1.2% in the Class I, II, and III obesity categories, respectively. Comorbidities increased with BMI: normal weight (0.222); overweight (0.255); and Class I (0.290), Class II (0.302), and Class III obesity (0.303), suggesting a dose-dependent likelihood of having multiple diseases. Adjusted linear regression (beta coefficients, 95% CIs) showed increased comorbidity risks in overweight (0.017, 0.013–0.021) and obesity (0.034, 0.030–0.039). Interaction analysis with age revealed a significant effect (p < 0.001). While comorbidities tend to increase with higher BMI categories in all age-tertile groups, this association was notably stronger among younger individuals. (4) Conclusions: Obesity is associated with a twofold increase in the prevalence of multiple comorbidities compared to normal weight. Our findings also highlight the critical role of age in the development of multiple diseases, with BMI remaining a significant factor across various age groups, encompassing both younger and older adults.

Introduction: The Mongolian government recently initiated the first nationwide health screening program to assess the health status of the entire population using age-group specific health risk assessments related to the major noncommunicable diseases and behavioral risk factors. Based on data collected from nationwide health screening program, we estimated the distribution of 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks in the general population by using the risk prediction model recently published by the World Health Organization (WHO). Methods: A representative sample of 35,769 adults aged between 40 and 80 years old participated in nationwide health screening program, which covered all 21 Mongolian provinces and 9 districts in the capital city Ulaanbaatar. Data used in the present study were obtained from the first wave of the screening program, which was held throughout Mongolia between May 2022 and February 2023. To assess the four categories of CVD risk and determine the 10-year risk of a fatal/non-fatal event, we used the WHO CVD risk 2019 laboratory-based cardiovascular disease risk charts. The following key risk factors were used to assess the 10-year CVD risk: gender, age, location, smoking status, body mass index, total cholesterol level, history of diabetes, fasting glucose level, and blood pressure level. The 10-year risk for CVD was divided into four groups: low risk (< 10%), mild risk (10 to 20%), moderate risk (20 to 30%), and high risk (> 30%). Results: Total of 35,769 adults aged between 40 and 80 years old participated in the nationwide health screening program. The mean age of the participants in the screening program was 54.4 ± 9.3 years. According to the CVD charts published by the WHO, about 48% ( n = 17,282) of the study population had a low 10-year CVD risk (30%). Conclusion: More than half of the screening program participants were identified as having a 10-year CVD risk greater than 10%. Effective intervention focusing on the male population living in urban areas, and target on major risk factors like hypertension, smoking and diabetes can be strategic approach to reducing the CVD risk in Mongolia.

Background: The triglyceride–glucose (TyG) index has emerged as a reliable surrogate marker of insulin resistance. This study aimed to investigate the association between blood pressure (BP) levels and the TyG index and to assess whether even modest elevations in BP were associated with higher TyG index values. Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using data from 120,264 participants who underwent nationwide health screening in Mongolia between 2023 and 2024. BP was categorized into five stages. The TyG index was calculated based on fasting triglyceride and glucose levels. Results: The mean TyG index increased progressively with advancing hypertension stages (p for trend <0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that even elevated BP was independently associated with a higher TyG index (adjusted OR 1.108, 95% CI 1.039–1.183; p = 0.002), with the association strengthening across hypertension stage 1 (adjusted OR 1.238, 95% CI 1.200–1.277), stage 2 (adjusted OR 1.516, 95% CI 1.463–1.572), and hypertensive crisis (adjusted OR 1.575, 95% CI 1.350–1.836) (all p < 0.001). Central obesity further amplified the association between hypertension stage and TyG index levels. Among participants without central obesity, the TyG index increased from 8.086 (95% CI: 8.079–8.093) in the normal BP group to 8.449 (8.362–8.536) in the hypertensive crisis group. Similarly, among those with central obesity, the TyG index rose from 8.345 (8.336–8.354) in the normal group to 8.732 (8.685–8.778) in the hypertensive crisis group. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the TyG index rises consistently with increasing BP stages, even at early elevations, suggesting that insulin resistance may begin at modest blood pressure increases.

(1) Background: Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), a leading cause of death globally. Recent studies have highlighted the role of pre-diabetes, particularly impaired fasting glucose (IFG), in elevating CVD risk even before the onset of diabetes. The objective of this study was to assess cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk across specific glycemic categories, including normoglycemia, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), newly diagnosed diabetes, and long-standing diabetes, in a large Mongolian population sample. (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from a nationwide health screening program in Mongolia between 2022 and 2023, involving 120,266 adults after applying inclusion criteria. The participants were categorized based on fasting plasma glucose levels (NGT): normoglycemia, IFG, newly diagnosed diabetes, and long-standing diabetes. CVD risk was assessed using WHO risk prediction charts, considering factors like age, blood pressure, smoking status, and diabetes status. (3) Results: CVD risk varied significantly with glycemic status. Among those with NGT, 62.9% were at low risk, while 31.2% were at moderate risk. In contrast, the IFG participants had 49.5% at low risk and 39.9% at moderate risk. Newly diagnosed diabetes showed 38.1% at low risk and 43.3% at moderate risk, while long-standing diabetes had 33.7% at low risk and 45.9% at moderate risk. Regression analysis indicated that glycemic status was independently associated with moderate to high CVD risk (OR in IFG: 1.13; 95% CI: 1.09–1.18), even after adjusting for age, gender, and central obesity. (4) Conclusions: This study emphasizes the need for early cardiovascular risk assessment and intervention, even in pre-diabetic stages like IFG.

Background: This study aims to assess the demographic, lifestyle, and clinical characteristics associated with varying levels of triglycerides (TGs) in a large population sample. Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from a nationwide health screening program in Mongolia. A total of 125,330 participants (mean age: 43.8 ± 15.3 years) were included. TG levels were categorized into normal, borderline high, high, and very high. Due to the small number of participants in the very high TG group, they were combined with the high TG category for analysis. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify independent predictors of elevated TG levels. Results: The majority of participants (80.3%) had normal TG levels, while 10.3% had borderline high, 8.7% had high, and 0.7% had very high TG levels. Significant predictors of elevated TG levels included age (OR 1.013, 95% CI 1.012–1.014), male (OR 2.328, 95% CI 2.251–2.408), obesity (OR 1.920, 95% CI 1.855–1.987), central obesity (OR 1.866, 95% CI 1.801–1.933), smoking (OR 1.399, 95% CI 1.347–1.453), alcohol use (OR 1.233, 95% CI 1.176–1.292), and non-regular exercise (OR 1.144, 95% CI 1.118–1.171). Sex-specific analysis revealed that elevated TG levels were more prevalent among males, regardless of other risk factors such as obesity and smoking. Conclusions: Male sex, obesity, and smoking were the strongest predictors of elevated TG levels.

Background: Tooth loss in childhood reflects cumulative oral disease and may impair dietary intake, potentially influencing nutritional status. Evidence on the association between tooth loss and anthropometric indicators in school-aged children remains limited. Methods: This population-based cross-sectional study used data from a nationwide health screening conducted by the Ministry of Health of Mongolia in 2023–2024. A total of 120,994 children aged 6–9 years were included. Tooth loss was categorized as 0, 1–2, or ≥3 extracted teeth. Nutritional status was assessed using weight-for-height (WHZ), weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) Z-scores, and body mass index (BMI). Associations between tooth loss and anthropometric indicators were examined using unadjusted and multivariable linear regression models adjusting for age and sex. Results: Overall, 12.5% of children had experienced tooth loss. Mean WHZ and WAZ decreased progressively with increasing tooth loss. In adjusted analyses, children with 1–2 extracted teeth had lower WHZ (β = −0.025; 95% CI: −0.047 to −0.004), and those with ≥3 extracted teeth had substantially lower WHZ (β = −0.058; 95% CI: −0.084 to −0.032), compared with children without tooth loss. Similar associations were observed for WAZ. No significant associations were found between tooth loss and BMI or HAZ. No interactions with age or sex were detected. Conclusions: Tooth loss was independently associated with lower indicators of current nutritional status among children aged 6–9 years. These findings underscore the importance of integrating oral health and nutrition strategies in childhood health programs.