Association Between Metabolic Scores for Visceral Fat and Arterial Stiffness

Q: What are the key findings of this study?

Participants in the highest quartile of the metabolic syndrome-related visceral fat index (METS-VF) had a significantly increased risk of arterial stiffness compared to the lowest quartile (OR 1.38).

Q: What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Cross-Sectional. Population: Arterial stiffness (n=3782). Intervention: Highest quartile of METS-VF (Q4) vs. Lowest quartile of METS-VF (Q1, < 6.47). Primary outcome: Arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity ≥ 10 m/s) (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.06 ~ 1.79, p=0.016).

Q: What does this research mean for the field?

Participants in the highest quartile of the metabolic syndrome-related visceral fat index (METS-VF) have a significantly increased risk of arterial stiffness compared to the lowest quartile, and METS-VF offers superior discriminative ability over traditional anthropometric indices. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

Fang Liu; Beijia Lin; 黄文晖; Yangfan Hu; Ziheng Wu; Guoyan Xu; Liangdi Xie; Tingjun Wang

doi:10.2147/vhrm.s588273

April 1, 2026Vascular Health and Risk ManagementOpen Access

Association Between Metabolic Scores for Visceral Fat and Arterial Stiffness

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Key result

Highest METS-VF quartile linked to ~38% greater arterial stiffness risk versus the lowest.

OR 1.38
95% CI 1.06 ~ 1.79
P=0.016
n=3,782

Figures

Why the study?

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between arterial stiffness and the metabolic syndrome-related visceral fat index (METS-VF).

Is a higher metabolic syndrome-related visceral fat index (METS-VF) associated with increased arterial stiffness in adult participants?

Key Points

To investigate the association between the metabolic syndrome-related visceral fat index (METS-VF) and arterial stiffness.
Conducted a cross-sectional study of 3,782 participants (mean age 59.42 ± 11.89 years, 62.96% male) enrolled between January 2019 and December 2023 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University.
Defined arterial stiffness as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) ≥ 10 m/s, calculated METS-VF using METS-IR, waist-to-height ratio, age, and sex, and categorized participants into quartiles (Q1–Q4).
Evaluated relationships using multivariable linear regression, logistic regression, restricted cubic splines (RCS), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis.
Arterial stiffness prevalence increased progressively across METS-VF quartiles from Q1 to Q4 (19.98%, 28.68%, 37.99%, and 49.37%, χ² = 201.04, P < 0.001).
METS-VF was independently associated with cfPWV in multivariate linear regression (β = 0.19, 95% CI 0.03 ~ 0.35, P = 0.018), and participants in Q4 had significantly higher odds of arterial stiffness compared to Q1 in the fully adjusted model (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.06 ~ 1.79, P = 0.016).
RCS analysis revealed a non-linear association (P for non-linearity = 0.025) with sharp risk acceleration above an inflection point of 6.81, while ROC analysis showed METS-VF had superior discriminative ability over BMI and waist-to-height ratio (P < 0.001).

Study Design

Type

Cross-Sectional (n=3,782)

Multicenter

No

Structured PICO

Is a higher metabolic syndrome-related visceral fat index (METS-VF) associated with increased arterial stiffness in adult participants?

P

Population

3,782 participants from a health examination center and general practice/geriatrics departments, mean age 59.42, 62.96% male, based in China.

I

Intervention

Higher metabolic syndrome-related visceral fat index (METS-VF) quartiles

C

Comparator

Lowest METS-VF quartile (Q1)

O

Outcome

Arterial stiffness defined as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) of ≥ 10 m/ssurrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: OR 1.38 (95% CI 1.06 ~ 1.79)

Absolute Event Rate: 49.37% vs 19.98%

p-value: p=0.016

METS-VF is independently associated with arterial stiffness and offers superior discriminative ability compared to traditional indices like BMI and waist-to-height ratio.

Limitations

Observational, cross-sectional, and single-center design precludes causal inference.
Participants were recruited exclusively from southern China, which may limit generalizability to other geographic or ethnic populations.
METS-VF does not capture precise anatomical fat distribution.
Potential confounding factor of lipid-lowering medication.
Causality requires further investigation due to cross-sectional design

Implication

May improve arterial stiffness risk stratification over BMI; extends METS-VF evidence but requires prospective validation.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between arterial stiffness and metabolic syndrome-related visceral fat index (METS-VF), a composite formula that inherently includes age, metabolic parameters, and visceral fat. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between January 2019 and December 2023, enrolling participants from Health Examination Center, and Departments of General Practice and Geriatrics at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University. Arterial stiffness was defined as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) of ≥ 10 m/s. METS-VF was calculated based on metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR), waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), age, and gender. Participants were categorized into quartiles (Q1–Q4) according to their METS-VF values. The associations between METS-VF and arterial stiffness were evaluated using linear regression analysis, logistic regression models, stratified analyses, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, and restricted cubic splines (RCS) to identify potential non-linear associations. Results: A total of 3782 participants, with a mean age of 59.42 ± 11.89 years and 62.96% male, were included in this study. There was a trend of increasing arterial stiffness from lower to higher METS-VF quartile (Q1 to Q4: 19.98%, 28.68%, 37.99%, 49.37%, χ 2 = 201.04, P < 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed an independent association between METS-VF with cfPWV ( β = 0.19, 95% CI 0.03 ~ 0.35). In the fully adjusted model, compared with Q1, the participants in Q4 (OR= 1.38, 95% CI 1.06 ~ 1.79, P =0.016) exhibited an increase in arterial stiffness. RCS analysis revealed a non-linear association between METS-VF and arterial stiffness. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that METS-VF had superior discriminative ability for arterial stiffness compared with body mass index (BMI) and WHtR ( P < 0.001). Similar results were observed in subgroup analyses. Conclusion: METS-VF is independently and positively associated with arterial stiffness. Its discriminative performance is superior to traditional anthropometric indices, though causality requires further investigation.

Discussion

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Cite This Study

Liu et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Arterial stiffness (n=3,782). Highest quartile of METS-VF (Q4) vs. Lowest quartile of METS-VF (Q1, < 6.47) was evaluated on Arterial stiffness (carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity ≥ 10 m/s) (OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.06 ~ 1.79, p=0.016). Participants in the highest quartile of the metabolic syndrome-related visceral fat index (METS-VF) had a significantly increased risk of arterial stiffness compared to the lowest quartile (OR 1.38).

synapsesocial.com/papers/69e07d732f7e8953b7cbe695 https://doi.org/10.2147/vhrm.s588273

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Association Between Metabolic Scores for Visceral Fat and Arterial Stiffness

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

Association Between Metabolic Scores for Visceral Fat and Arterial Stiffness

Figures

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Implication

Abstract

Discussion

Cite This Study

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