Severe visceral adipose dysfunction, identified by high Visceral Adiposity Index scores, was independently associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events (OR 7.46).
Cross-Sectional (n=1,764)
Yes
Does the Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) identify visceral adipose dysfunction associated with cardiometabolic risk in a Caucasian Sicilian population?
The Visceral Adiposity Index can be used to identify visceral adipose dysfunction, which is strongly and independently associated with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
Odds Ratio: 7.46 (95% CI 2.64–21.05)
Absolute Event Rate: 10.4% vs 1%
p-value: p=< 0.001
BACKGROUND: The Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) is a sex-specific mathematical index, based on Waist Circumference (WC), Body Mass Index (BMI), triglycerides (TG) and HDL cholesterol (HDL) levels, indirectly expressing visceral adipose function and insulin sensitivity. Our aim was to find the optimal cut-off points of VAI identifying a visceral adipose dysfunction (VAD) associated with cardiometabolic risk in a Caucasian Sicilian population. METHODS: Medical check-up data of 1,764 Primary Care patients (PC patients) were retrospectively and cross-sectionally examined using a receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve to determine appropriate stratified-for-age cut-off of VAI, for the identification of PC patients with Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) according to the NCEP-ATP III criteria. The PC patients with higher VAI scores were subdivided into three groups according to VAI tertiles (i.e. PC patients with mild VAD, moderate VAD or severe VAD). Finally, VAD classes were compared to classical cardio- and cerebrovascular risk factors as independent predictors of coronary heart disease and/or myocardial infarction, transient ischemic attack and/or ischemic stroke. RESULTS: Moderate and severe VADs proved to be independently associated with cardiovascular events (OR: 5.35; 95% CI: 1.92-14.87; p = 0.001) and (OR: 7.46; 95% CI: 2.64-21.05; p < 0.001) respectively. Mild, moderate and severe VADs were found to be independently associated with cerebrovascular events (OR: 2.73; 95% CI: 1.12-6.65; p = 0.027), (OR: 4.20; 95% CI: 1.86-9.45; p = 0.001) and (OR: 5.10; 95% CI: 2.14-12.17; p < 0.001) respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that among Caucasian Sicilian subjects there are clear cut-off points of VAI able to identify a VAD strongly associated with cardiometabolic risk.
Amato et al. (2011) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiometabolic risk (n=1,764). Severe Visceral Adipose Dysfunction (VAD) vs. VAD absent was evaluated on Cardiovascular events (coronary heart disease and/or myocardial infarction) (OR 7.46, 95% CI 2.64-21.05, p=< 0.001). Severe visceral adipose dysfunction, identified by high Visceral Adiposity Index scores, was independently associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular events (OR 7.46).