The applicability of the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) for predicting visceral fat / Aplicabilidade do Índice de Adiposidade Visceral (IAV) como preditor de gordura visceral

Abstract As obesity has reached epidemic proportions and given the current recognition of central adiposity as an important cardiometabolic risk factor, several researchers have focused on developing and validating predictive indexes and equations to evaluate Visceral Adipose Tissue (VAT). This study evaluates the applicability of the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) for predicting cardiometabolic risk in individuals treated in a hospital In the northeast region of Brazil. The VAT was evaluated by computed tomography (CT) and the VAI was calculated through specific equations for each gender. The sample involved adult and elderly patients of both genders followed up in a cardiology outpatient clinic. The following cardiometabolic parameters were collected: fasting glycemia, glycated hemoglobin, lipid profile, C-reactive protein (CRP) and uric acid. The simple linear regression was used to evaluate the explanatory power of the VAI in relation to the volume of VAT determined by CT. The predictive capacity of VAI in relation to the volume of VAT determined by CT was 25.8% (p=0.004) for males and 19.9% (p<0.001) for females. VAI correlated strongly with the triglyceride (TG) (p<0.001) and TG/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio (p<0.001) and inversely correlated with HDL (p<0.001). Moreover, VAI showed low correlation with the following variables: abdominal circumference, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein, fasting glycemia, and glycated hemoglobin (p<0.05). VAI was associated with variables considered as cardiometabolic risk factors, but exhibited a low predictive capacity regarding the volume of VAT determined by CT. Thus, caution is recommended in its use in Brazilian individuals.

Resumo Em razão de a obesidade ter alcançado proporções epidêmicas e dado ao atual reconhecimento da adiposidade central como um importante fator de risco cardiometabólico, diversos pesquisadores têm se dedicado em desenvolver e validar índices e equações preditivas para avaliar o Tecido Adiposo Visceral (TAV). Este estudo avaliou a aplicabilidade do Índice de Adiposidade Visceral (IAV) como preditor de risco cardiometabólico em indivíduos atendidos em um hospital no nordeste brasileiro. O TAV foi avaliado por tomografia computadorizada (TC) e o IAV foi calculado através de equações específicas para cada sexo. A amostra envolveu pacientes adultos e idosos de ambos os sexos acompanhados no ambulatório de cardiologia. Os seguintes parâmetros cardiometabólicos foram coletados: glicemia de jejum, hemoglobina glicada, perfil lipídico, proteína C-reativa e ácido úrico. Regressão linear simples foi empregada para avaliar o poder explicativo do IAV em relação ao volume de TAV determinado por TC. A capacidade preditiva do IAV em relação ao volume de TAV determinado pela TC foi de 25,8% (p=0,004) para o sexo masculino e 19,9% (p<0,001) para o sexo feminino. O IAV se correlacionou fortemente com as variáveis TG (r=0,916, p< 0,001) e TG/HDL (r=0,952, p<0,001) e inversamente com o HDL (r=-0,441, p<0,001), além disso, apresentou baixa correlação com as variáveis: circunferência abdominal, colesterol total, lipoproteína de baixa densidade, glicemia de jejum e hemoglobina glicada (p<0,05). O IAV associou-se com variáveis consideradas fatores de risco cardiometabólico, porém exibiu baixa capacidade preditiva em relação ao volume de TAV determinado pela TC, sendo recomendada cautela em sua utilização em indivíduos brasileiros.

Exercise Testing, Family History, and Subclinical Atherosclerosis Markers for Cardiovascular Risk Reclassification in Middle-Aged Women

Abstract Background Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death in women and the accuracy of currently available risk scores is questionable. Objective To reclassify the risk estimated by the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) in asymptomatic middle-aged women by incorporating family history, exercise testing variables, and subclinical atherosclerosis markers. Methods This cross-sectional study included 509 women (age range, 46-65 years) without cardiovascular symptoms. Those at low or intermediate risk by the FRS were reclassified to a higher level considering premature family history of acute myocardial infarction and/or sudden death; four variables from exercise testing; and two variables related to subclinical atherosclerosis markers. The homogeneity of these variables according to the FRS was verified by Pearson chi-square test (p<0.05). Results According to the FRS, 80.2%, 6.2%, and 13.6% of the women were classified as low (<5%), intermediate (5-10%), and high (>10%) risks, respectively. The intermediate-risk stratum showed the highest increase (from 6.2% to 33.3%) with addition of family history; followed by addition of chronotropic index <80% (to 24.2%); functional capacity <85% (22.2%), coronary calcium score >0 (20.6%); decreased one-minute heart rate recovery ≤12 bpm (15.2%); carotid intima-media thickness >1 mm and/or carotid plaque (13.8%) and ST-segment depression (9.0%). The high-risk stratum increased to 14.4% with the addition of reduced heart rate recovery and to 17.1% with the coronary calcium score. Conclusion Incorporation of premature family history of cardiovascular events, exercise testing abnormal parameters, and subclinical atherosclerosis markers into the FRS led to risk reclassification in 3.0-29.7% of asymptomatic middle-aged women, mainly by an increase from low to intermediate risk.

The impact of visceral fat and levels of vitamin D on coronary artery calcification.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluated calcification of the coronary arteries and its association with visceral fat and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) serum levels. METHODS: A cross sectional study involving 140 individuals without any previous diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. A biochemical analysis of vitamin D serum levels was carried out, as well as computed tomography to measure coronary artery calcium score and visceral adipose tissue. RESULTS: The mean age of the individuals was 55.9 (±12.4). Coronary artery calcium was observed in 40.7% of the population. Vitamin D presented median serum levels of 30.4 ng/ml (IQ24.5-39.1), with 14,1 and 33.7% of the individuals presenting deficiency and insufficiency, respectively. In the univariate analysis, the calcium score was more prevalent in aged patients (p<0.01), in hypertensive individuals (p<0.01), in diabetics (p=0.02), and in those with a higher concentration of VAT (p=0.02). In the adjusted analysis, it was found that the highest concentration of VAT (OR: 4.0; 95%CI 1.4-11.7), hypertension (OR: 4.8; 95%CI 1.5-15.3), and age (OR: 10.4; 95%CI 3.9-27.6) were predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis, regardless of body mass index, diabetes, and 25OHD. CONCLUSIONS: Excess visceral fat was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, regardless of other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Serum levels of 25OHD were not associated with CAD in its early stages.

The impact of visceral fat and levels of vitamin D on coronary artery calcification

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To evaluated calcification of the coronary arteries and its association with visceral fat and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) serum levels. METHODS: A cross sectional study involving 140 individuals without any previous diagnosis of cardiovascular disease. A biochemical analysis of vitamin D serum levels was carried out, as well as computed tomography to measure coronary artery calcium score and visceral adipose tissue. RESULTS: The mean age of the individuals was 55.9 (±12.4). Coronary artery calcium was observed in 40.7% of the population. Vitamin D presented median serum levels of 30.4 ng/ml (IQ24.5-39.1), with 14,1 and 33.7% of the individuals presenting deficiency and insufficiency, respectively. In the univariate analysis, the calcium score was more prevalent in aged patients (p<0.01), in hypertensive individuals (p<0.01), in diabetics (p=0.02), and in those with a higher concentration of VAT (p=0.02). In the adjusted analysis, it was found that the highest concentration of VAT (OR: 4.0; 95%CI 1.4-11.7), hypertension (OR: 4.8; 95%CI 1.5-15.3), and age (OR: 10.4; 95%CI 3.9-27.6) were predictors of subclinical atherosclerosis, regardless of body mass index, diabetes, and 25OHD. CONCLUSIONS: Excess visceral fat was associated with subclinical atherosclerosis, regardless of other risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Serum levels of 25OHD were not associated with CAD in its early stages.

Association between anthropometricparameters and coronary calcification / Associação entre parâmetros antropométricos e calcificação coronariana

Several studies have reported an association between obesity and the presence of coronary artery calcification (CAC), but it is still unclear which parameter would be most useful in screening for coronary calcification. This study aimed to evaluate the association between anthropometric parameters and coronary calcification. A cross-sectional study was developed involving patients attended by outpatient care, without previous diagnosis of coronary disease. The CAC was evaluated by computerized tomography, considering the coronary calcium score (CCS)> 0 as the presence of calcification and 0 as absence. The anthropometric variables studied were: body mass index, waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist-to-height ratio (Et al.), conicity index (CI), neck circumference, neck-thigh ratio, waist-thigh ratio (WThR) and body adiposity index. A total of 129 patients were evaluated, with a mean age of 55.6±11.7 years. CAC was observed in 41.9% of patients. In the male sex, the CCS had a higher correlation with the WHR (r=0.416, p=0.016) and in females, the CI and WThR (r=0.305, p=0.003 and r=0.328, p=0.001, respectively). In the logistic regression model, the only anthropometric parameter that remained associated to CAC was WC (OR=3.9). In conclusion, it was observed that several anthropometric parameters were associated with CAC, and WC was the only anthropometric parameter that remained associated to CAC in the adjusted analysis

Vários estudos têm registrado associação entre obesidade e a presença da calcificação das artérias coronárias (CAC), porém ainda não está claro qual parâmetro seria mais útil na triagem da calcificação coronariana. Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a associação entre parâmetros antropométricos com a calcificação coronariana. Foi realizado um estudo transversal envolvendo pacientes atendidos ambulatorialmente, sem diagnóstico prévio de doença coronariana. A CAC foi avaliada por tomografia computadorizada, considerando-se o escore de cálcio coronariano (ECC)>0 como presença de calcificação e igual a 0 como ausência. As variáveis antropométricas estudadas foram: índice de massa corpórea, circunferência abdominal (CA), razão cintura quadril (RCQ), razão cintura estatura, índice de conicidade (IC), circunferência do pescoço, razão pescoço-coxa, razão cintura-coxa (RCC) e índice de adiposidade corporal. Foram avaliados 129 pacientes, com média de idade de 55,6±11,7 anos. A CAC foi evidenciada em 41,9% dos pacientes. No sexo masculino, o ECC apresentou maior correlação com a RCQ (r=0,416; p=0,016) e no feminino, com o IC e com a RCC (r=0,305; p=0,003 e r=0,328; p=0,001, respectivamente). No modelo de regressão logística o único parâmetro antropométrico que permaneceu associado à CAC foi a CA (OR=3,9). Em conclusão, observou-se que vários parâmetros antropométricos foram associados à CAC, sendo CA o único parâmetro antropométrico que se manteve associado à CAC na analise ajustada

Razón entre grasa visceral y subcutánea como predictor de alteraciones cardiometabólicas / Ratio of visceral to subcutaneous fat as a predictor of cardiometabolic risk

RESUMEN La grasa visceral es una importante medida predictora de riesgo cardiometabólico, sin embargo, se ha sugerido que la razón entre los componentes visceral y subcutáneo (TAV/TAS ≥ 0,4) puede ser un indicador más apropiado para evaluar la predisposición para acumular grasa visceral (GV) y las alteraciones cardio-metabólicas. Objetivo: Evaluar la predisposición para acumular GV y su asociación con alteraciones cardio-metabólicas. Métodos: Estudio transversal con 147 individuos atendidos en un ambulatorio de un hospital en el Nordeste brasileño. Se evaluaron el TAV y el TAS por tomografía computarizada y se investigaron variables demgráficas, clínicas, antropométricas y factores de riesgo cardiometabólico. Resultados: El promedio de edad fue 52,7±13,2 años y se observó una elevada razón TAV/TAS de 0,79±0,29 en hombres y 0,54±0,22 en mujeres. Se correlacionó la razón TAV/TAS con perfil glucídico y puntuacion de calcio coronariano (PCC) (p< 0,05), mientras que el TAV aislado presentó correlación directa con colesterol no-HDL, triglicéridos (TG), razón TG/HDL, glicemia, hemoglobina glicosilada y PCC (p<0,05) e inversa con HDL-c (p= 0,001). Conclusiones: Se observó una elevada predisposición para la acumulación de TAV. La razón TAV/TAS presentó correlación con alteraciones cardiometabólicas, pero la concentración de TAV aislada se correlacionó con un número superior de parámetros, siendo en esta investigación un predictor más potente que la razón TAV/TAS para indicar esas alteraciones.

ABSTRACT Visceral fat is an important predictor of cardiometabolic risk, but evidence suggests that the ratio between visceral and subcutaneous fat (≥0.4) may be a more appropriate indicator to assess individual predisposition to accumulate visceral fat (VF) and predict cardiometabolic alterations. Objective: To evaluate the predisposition to accumulate VF and its association with cardiometabolic alterations. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 147 patients seen at a hospital in Northeast Brazil. VF and subcutaneous fat (SF) were evaluated by computed tomography and anthropometric and cardiometabolic risk factors were investigated. Results: The mean age was 52.7±13.2 years. Mean VF/SF ratio was high: 0.79±0.29 for men and 0.54±0.22 for women and was correlated with the glucose profile and coronary calcium score (CCA) (p< 0.05). VF was directly correlation with non-HDL cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), TG/HDL ratio, glycemia, glycated hemoglobin and CCA (p< 0.05) and inversely with HDL-c (p= 0.001). Conclusions: A high predisposition to VF accumulation was observed in the population. VF/SF ratio correlated with cardiometabolic alterations, but the concentration of isolated VF correlated with a higher number of parameters. In this investigation, VF alone was a more powerful predictor of cardiometabolic alterations than the ratio of VF/SF.