The role of the visceral adiposity index in the assessment of metabolic syndrome of polycystic ovary syndrome patients: a new anthropometric index.

PURPOSE: Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common endocrine disorder often linked to metabolic syndrome (MS), raising the risk of cardiovascular disease and type II diabetes. Certain indicators, such as the lipid accumulation product (LAP) and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), can predict MS in PCOS patients. This study aimed to assess the predictive power of the visceral adiposity index (VAI) in comparison to LAP and HOMA-IR as predictors of MS in PCOS patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, data from 317 diagnosed PCOS women were analyzed. VAI, LAP, and HOMA-IR were computed as indexes. Participants were categorized into two groups for index accuracy comparison: PCOS patients with and without MS. The data were assessed using a ROC curve. RESULTS: Among PCOS women with MS, 92.3% had abnormal VAI results, 94.5% had abnormal LAP results, and only 50.5% had abnormal HOMA-IR results. Conversely, the majority of PCOS women without MS had normal HOMA-IR (64.6%). When comparing these indexes using the ROC curve, VAI displayed the highest accuracy, followed by LAP and HOMA-IR. CONCLUSION: The VAI index proved to be a superior predictor of metabolic MS in PCOS women when compared to other indexes.

Influence of visceral adiposity on cardiovascular risk in patients with systemic sclerosis.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an autoimmune disease characterized by systemic inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, generalized fibrosis and high cardiovascular mortality. The evaluation of cardiovascular risk through the visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been helpful due to its direct relationship to the body and visceral fat percentage. We evaluated the influence of body composition and anthropometrics on cardiovascular risk as measured by VAI in healthy controls (HC) and SSc. An analytical cross-sectional study of 66 participants (33 SSc and 33 HC), mean age 52.7 ± 10, 95% women, was conducted from August 2020 to January 2021. Inclusion criteria in cases were consecutive patients with SSc (ACR/EULAR 2013), 63.6% were diffuse cutaneous (dcSS) subtype, and 36.4 were limited cutaneous (lcSS) subtype. HC was matched by age and gender. Serum lipid profiles and InBody anthropometrics were analyzed and compared. We performed descriptive statistics, bivariate analysis with Student's t, or Mann-Whitney U, correlation and chi-square according to the variable type and distribution. Total cholesterol was significantly higher in SSc than HC (345 vs 194, p = < 0.001). The BMI was higher in HC (26.2 vs 28.9, p < 0.001). Kilograms of muscle (19.8 vs 28.9, p < 0.001) and total fat (23.4 vs 28.9, p < 0.001) were lower in SSc patients compared to HC. VAI was similar when BMI < 25, but significantly higher when BMI > 25 in SSc than in HC (3 vs 1.9, p = 0.030). The increase in BMI at overweight or obese in SSc is associated with a significant increase in cardiovascular risk.

Metabolic syndrome and Visceral Adiposity Index in non-functional adrenal adenomas

ABSTRACT Objective: We aimed to identify metabolic dysfunction in non-functioning adrenal adenomas (NFAAs) and Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) predictability in the practical estimation of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in NFAAs. Subjects and methods: 134 NFAA patients and 68 control subjects matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were included in the study. After physical, biochemical, and endocrine evaluation, IDF and NCEP ATP III criteria were used to determine MetS. HOMA-IR and VAI were calculated for both study group subjects. Results: MetS was significantly higher in the NFAA patients. The incidence of MetS by IDF and NCEP criteria was 52.9%,48.5% in the NFAI and 32.3%,30.8% in the control group (p < 0.01, p = 0.02). The risk of MetS was increased in NFAA (75.6 vs. 24.4%, p = 0.017, OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.06-1.68). Glucose, HOMA IR, hypertension, and VAI were significantly increased in NFAA patients. The risk of MetS was independently associated with high VAI (79.2 vs. 20.8%, p = 0.001, OR = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.70-2.91). Conclusion: MetS, insulin resistance, and VAI are more prevalant in NFAA patients than in healthy individuals. VAI can be used with high specificity to estimate MetS in NFAA patients.

The Relationship between Bone Mineral Densitometry and Visceral Adiposity Index in Postmenopausal Women / A relação entre a densitometria mineral óssea e o índice de adiposidade visceral em mulheres na pós-menopausa

Abstract Objective It was aimed to compare visceral adiposity index (VAI) levels in patients with normal bone mineral density (BMD), osteopenia, and osteoporosis. Methods One hundred twenty postmenopausal women (40 with normal BMD, 40 with osteopenia, and 40 with osteoporosis) between the ages of 50 to 70 years were included in the study. For females, the VAI was calculated using the formula (waist circumference [WC]/[36.58 + (1.89 x body mass index (BMI))]) x (1.52/High-density lipoprotein [HDL]-cholesterol [mmol/L]) x (triglyceride [TG]/0.81 [mmol/L]). Results The time of menopause from the beginning was similar in all groups. Waist circumference was found to be higher in those with normal BMD than in the osteopenic and osteoporotic groups (p = 0.018 and p < 0.001, respectively), and it was also higher in the osteopenic group than in the osteoporotic group (p = 0.003). Height and body weight, BMI, blood pressure, insulin, glucose, HDL-cholesterol, and homeostasis model assessment-insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were similar in all groups. Triglyceride levels were found to be higher in the normal BMD group, compared with the osteoporotic group (p = 0.005). The level of VAI was detected as higher in those with normal BMD, compared with the women with osteoporosis (p = 0.002). Additionally, the correlation analysis showed a positive correlation between dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) spine T-scores, WC, VAI, and a negative correlation between DXA spine T-scores and age. Conclusion In our study, we found higher VAI levels in those with normal BMD, compared with women with osteoporosis. We consider that further studies with a larger sample size will be beneficial in elucidating the entity.

Resumo Objetivo O objetivo foi comparar os níveis de índice de adiposidade visceral (IVA) em pacientes com densidade mineral óssea (DMO) normal osteopenia e osteoporose. Métodos Cento e vinte mulheres na pós-menopausa (40 com DMO normal 40 com osteopenia e 40 com osteoporose) com idades entre 50 e 70 anos foram incluídas no estudo. Para o sexo feminino o VAI foi calculado pela fórmula (circunferência da cintura [CC]/[36 58 + (1 89 x índice de massa corporal (IMC))]) x (1 52/lipoproteína de alta densidade [HDL]-colesterol [mmol/L]) x (triglicerídeo [TG]/0 81 [mmol/L]). Resultados O tempo de menopausa desde o início foi semelhante em todos os grupos. A circunferência da cintura foi maior naqueles com DMO normal do que nos grupos osteopênicos e osteoporóticos (p = 0 018 e p < 0 001 respectivamente) e também foi maior no grupo osteopênico do que no grupo osteoporótico (p = 0 003) . Altura e peso corporal IMC pressão arterial insulina glicose HDL-colesterol e os níveis de avaliação do modelo de homeostase-resistência à insulina (HOMA-IR) foram semelhantes em todos os grupos. Os níveis de triglicerídeos foram maiores no grupo DMO normal em comparação com o grupo osteoporótico (p = 0 005). O nível de VAI foi detectado como maior naquelas com DMO normal em comparação com as mulheres com osteoporose (p = 0 002). Além disso a análise de correlação mostrou uma correlação positiva entre a absorciometria de raios-X de dupla energia (DXA) nas pontuações T da coluna CC VAI e uma correlação negativa entre as pontuações T da coluna DXA e a idade. Conclusão Em nosso estudo encontramos níveis mais elevados de VAI naquelas com DMO normal em comparação com mulheres com osteoporose. Consideramos que novos estudos com maior tamanho amostral serão benéficos na elucidação da entidade.

Metabolic syndrome and Visceral Adiposity Index in non-functional adrenal adenomas.

Objective: We aimed to identify metabolic dysfunction in non-functioning adrenal adenomas (NFAAs) and Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) predictability in the practical estimation of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in NFAAs. Subjects and methods: 134 NFAA patients and 68 control subjects matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI) were included in the study. After physical, biochemical, and endocrine evaluation, IDF and NCEP ATP III criteria were used to determine MetS. HOMA-IR and VAI were calculated for both study group subjects. Results: MetS was significantly higher in the NFAA patients. The incidence of MetS by IDF and NCEP criteria was 52.9%,48.5% in the NFAI and 32.3%,30.8% in the control group (p < 0.01, p = 0.02). The risk of MetS was increased in NFAA (75.6 vs. 24.4%, p = 0.017, OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.06-1.68). Glucose, HOMA IR, hypertension, and VAI were significantly increased in NFAA patients. The risk of MetS was independently associated with high VAI (79.2 vs. 20.8%, p = 0.001, OR = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.70-2.91). Conclusion: MetS, insulin resistance, and VAI are more prevalant in NFAA patients than in healthy individuals. VAI can be used with high specificity to estimate MetS in NFAA patients.

Higher visceral adiposity index is associated with increased likelihood of abdominal aortic calcification.

BACKGROUND: The negative effects of visceral adiposity accumulation on cardiovascular health have drawn much attention. However, the association between the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) and Abdominal Aortic Calcification (AAC) has never been reported before. The authors aimed to investigate the association between the VAI and AAC in US adults. METHODS: Cross-sectional data were derived from the 2013 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of participants with complete data of VAI and AAC scores. Weighted multivariable regression and logistic regression analysis were conducted to explore the independent relationship between VAI and AAC. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests were also performed. RESULTS: A total of 2958 participants were enrolled and participants in the higher VAI tertile tended to have a higher mean AAC score and prevalence of severe AAC. In the fully adjusted model, a positive association between VAI and AAC score and severe AAC was observed (ß = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01‒0.08; OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01‒1.07). Participants in the highest VAI tertile had a 0.41-unit higher AAC score (ß = 0.41, 95% CI 0.08‒0.73) and a significantly 68% higher risk of severe AAC than those in the lowest VAI tertile (OR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.04‒2.71). Subgroup analysis and interaction tests indicated that there was no dependence for the association of VAI and AAC. CONCLUSION: Visceral adiposity accumulation evaluated by the VAI was associated with a higher AAC score and an increased likelihood of severe AAC.

Higher visceral adiposity index is associated with increased likelihood of abdominal aortic calcification

Abstract Background: The negative effects of visceral adiposity accumulation on cardiovascular health have drawn much attention. However, the association between the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) and Abdominal Aortic Calcification (AAC) has never been reported before. The authors aimed to investigate the association between the VAI and AAC in US adults. Methods: Cross-sectional data were derived from the 2013 to 2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) of participants with complete data of VAI and AAC scores. Weighted multivariable regression and logistic regression analysis were conducted to explore the independent relationship between VAI and AAC. Subgroup analysis and interaction tests were also performed. Results: A total of 2958 participants were enrolled and participants in the higher VAI tertile tended to have a higher mean AAC score and prevalence of severe AAC. In the fully adjusted model, a positive association between VAI and AAC score and severe AAC was observed (β = 0.04, 95% CI 0.01‒0.08; OR = 1.04, 95% CI 1.01‒1.07). Participants in the highest VAI tertile had a 0.41-unit higher AAC score (β = 0.41, 95% CI 0.08‒0.73) and a significantly 68% higher risk of severe AAC than those in the lowest VAI tertile (OR = 1.68, 95% CI 1.04‒2.71). Subgroup analysis and interaction tests indicated that there was no dependence for the association of VAI and AAC. Conclusion: Visceral adiposity accumulation evaluated by the VAI was associated with a higher AAC score and an increased likelihood of severe AAC.

Surrogate indexes of insulin resistance and risk of metabolic syndrome in non-Hispanic White, non-Hispanic Black and Mexican American.

AIM: To compare the strength of associations between surrogate indexes of insulin resistance (sIR) and risk of metabolic syndrome (MetS) in non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB) and Mexican American (MA) adults. METHODS: The 2013-2016 US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (n = 3435) were used for this study. The associations between sIR that includes Triglyceride/HDL cholesterol ratio (TG/HDL-C), triglyceride glucose (TG) index, visceral adiposity index (VAI), lipid accumulation product (LAP), TG-body mass index (TG-BMI), and TG-waist circumference (TG-WC) and risk for MetS were determined using the prevalence odds ratio (OR) from the logistic regression analyses. Pseudo-R-squared tests were used to estimate the proportion of variance in MetS accounted for by each sIR. Akaike Information Criterion and Bayesian Information Criterion from the multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to compare models that included each sIR and its components separately as predictors of MetS. Areas under curves (AUC) from the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) were used to detect their diagnostic capabilities. RESULTS: Compared with other sIR, TG-WC (AUC = 0.899; 95% CI: 0.884-0.913 in NHW) and (AUC = 0.893; 95% CI:0.871-0.915 in NHB), and LAP (AUC = 877; 95% CI: 0.861-0.894 in MA) exhibited the highest diagnostic and predictive accuracy for MetS. Compared with other sIR, TG-WC (OR = 22.8; 95% CI:16.6-31.0 in NHW) and (OR = 22.7; 95% CI:13.1-39.3 in NHB), and LAP (OR = 10.6; 95%:6.6-17.0 in MA) were most significantly associated with increased odds of MetS, adjusting for eGFR, age, marital status, CHD, CHF, income, education, physical activity, alcohol use, smoking and use of cholesterol-lowering medication. CONCLUSIONS: TG-WC in NHW and NHB, and LAP in MA are more powerful than other proxies of IR in predicting MetS. TG-WC and LAP can serve as adjunctive tools for screening for MetS in NHW, NHB, and MA.

Visceral Adiposity Index is not Superior over Anthropometric Parameters with regards to Inflammation in Healthy Adolescent Girls.

OBJECTIVE: Better than simple anthropometric parameters, the visceral adiposity index (VAI) has recently been proposed as a predictor of cardiometabolic risk in adults. However, there are conflicting results on the associations of these parameters in children and adolescents. Therefore, we aimed to estimate this potential relationship between VAI, anthropometric parameters (i.e., body mass index [BMI], waist circumference [WC], and waist-to-height ratio [WHtR], respectively), and inflammation as measured by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels in a cohort of adolescent girls. METHODS: A total of 90 adolescent girls from 16 to 19 years old were included in cross-sectional study. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters (glucose, lipid parameters, and hsCRP) were measured. The VAI, derived from anthropometric and lipid parameters, calculated {[WC/36.58 + (1.89 × BMI)] × (triglycerides/0.81) × (1.52/HDL-cholesterol)} was calculated. RESULTS: A comparison of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed that all the curves for the anthropometric parameters (e.g., BMI, WC, WHtR) had excellent discriminatory capability with regard to inflammation level status (low vs. high level) and significantly larger areas under the curve (AUC = 0.885, AUC = 0.863, AUC = 0.860, respectively; P < 0.001) than the ROC curve for VAI did (AUC = 0.686; P = 0.021). CONCLUSION: Visceral adiposity index is not superior over anthropometric parameters in relation to inflammation as measured by high sensitivity C-reactive protein in adolescent girls.

Punto de corte para el índice de adiposidad visceral en una población venezolana: resultados del Estudio de prevalencia de síndrome metabólico de Maracaibo / Optimal cutoff for visceral adiposity index in a Venezuelan population: Results from the Maracaibo City Metabolic Syndrome Prevalence Study

Aim: Visceral obesity is one of the most intensely researched cardiometabolic risk factors in recent years; nonetheless, its accurate assessment remains a challenge in regions were socioeconomic conditions hinder the widespread use of diagnostic methods for this purpose, such as imaging tests. In this setting, Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) may be a useful tool. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the VAI cutoff in adult population from Maracaibo City, Venezuela. Methods: This is a descriptive, cross-sectional study with multi-staged sampling; 2026 subjects of both genders aged ≥18 years were selected from this database and had their VAI calculated. In order to determine VAI cutoffs, subsamples of metabolically healthy and sick individuals were determined, with 599 and 286 subjects, respectively. Gender-specific and general ROC curves were plotted in order to identify the most suitable cutoff according to sensitivity and specificity. Results: Median VAI in the selected sample was 1.67 (0.97-2.78). The optimal cutoff was determined to be 1.91, with 70.3% sensitivity, 70.3% specificity [AUC = 0.777 (0.745-0.808)]. No differences were found between genders. Analysis by age revealed VAI to have greater predictive power among subjects aged < 30 years (cutoff: 1.53), 78.6% sensitivity, 72.8% specificity [AUC = 0.797 (0.709-0.884)]. Conclusion: We suggest a VAI cutoff of 1.9 for define dysfunctional adiposity in our population, with age being an important factor in the epidemiologic behavior of this variable, particularly in younger individuals.

Objetivo: La obesidad central es uno de los factores de riesgo cardiometabólicos emergente más evaluado durante los últimos años, sin embargo, su medición de forma precisa resulta un reto en aquellas poblaciones cuyas condiciones económicas dificultan la realización de métodos diagnósticos complejos, como pruebas de imagen. Por ello el objetivo de este estudio es determinar el punto de corte del índice de adiposidad visceral (VAI) en sujetos adultos de la ciudad de Maracaibo, Venezuela. Métodos: Se seleccionó a 2.026 individuos de ambos sexos, mayores de 18 años, de la base de datos del Estudio de prevalencia de síndrome metabólico en la ciudad de Maracaibo, un estudio descriptivo, transversal, con muestreo multietápico. El VAI se calculó para cada sexo y para la estimación del punto corte se seleccionó a 599 sujetos sanos y 286 enfermos, realizándose curvas COR para identificar el mejor valor de acuerdo con la sensibilidad y la especificidad. Resultados: El promedio de VAI en la muestra seleccionada fue 1,67 (0,97-2,78). El punto de corte fue 1,91 (70,3% de sensibilidad y 70,3% de especificidad) con AUC = 0,777 (0,745-0,808), sin diferencias en el punto de corte según sexo. En el análisis por grupos etarios la mayor capacidad predictiva fue para el grupo < 30 años con AUC = 0,797 (0,709-0,884), con un punto de corte de 1,53 (78,6% de sensibilidad y 72,8% de especificidad). Conclusión: El punto de corte indicado para VAI en nuestra población es de 1,9; considerando la edad como un factor importante en su comportamiento, especialmente en los grupos más jóvenes.

Visceral adiposity index and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio in hypogonadism

ABSTRACT Background Cardiometabolic risk is high in patients with hypogonadism. Visceral adiposity index (VAI) and triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C) ratio are the practical markers of atherosclerosis and insulin resistance and independent predictors of cardiaovascular risk. To date, no study has evaluated VAI levels and TG/HDL-C ratio in hypogonadism. Subjects and methods A total of 112 patients with congenital hypogonadotrophic hypogonadism (CHH) (mean age, 21.7 ± 2.06 years) and 124 healthy subjects (mean age, 21.5 ± 1.27 years) were enrolled. The demographic parameters, VAI, TG/HDL-C ratio, asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) levels were measured for all participants. Results The patients had higher total cholesterol (p = 0.04), waist circumference, triglycerides, insulin, and HOMA-IR levels (p = 0.001 for all) than the healthy subjects. VAI and ADMA and TG/HDL-C levels were also higher in patients than in healthy subjects (p < 0.001 for all). VAI was weakly correlated with ADMA (r = 0.27, p = 0.015), HOMA-IR (r = 0.22, p = 0.006), hs-CRP (r = 0.19, p = 0.04), and total testosterone (r = −0.21, p = 0.009) levels, whereas TG/HDL-C ratio was weakly correlated weakly with ADMA (r = 0.30, p = 0.003), HOMA-IR (r = 0.22, p = 0.006), and total testosterone (r = −0.16, p = 0.03) levels. Neither VAI nor TG/HDL-C ratio determined ADMA, HOMA-IR, and hs-CRP levels. Conclusions The results of this study demonstrate that patients with hypogonadism have elevated VAI and TG/HDL-C ratio. These values are significantly correlated with the surrogate markers of endothelial dysfunction, inflammation, and insulin resistance. However, the predictive roles of VAI and TG/HDL-C ratio are not significant. Prospective follow-up studies are warranted to clarify the role of VAI and TG/HDL-C ratio in predicting cardiometabolic risk in patients with hypogonadism.