Visceral fat accumulation (VFA ≥ 100 cm²) was independently associated with the presence of cerebral small vessel disease in subjects without prior symptomatic cerebrovascular disease.
Cross-Sectional (n=506)
Is visceral fat accumulation associated with the presence of cerebral small vessel disease in asymptomatic subjects?
Visceral fat accumulation, measured by CT, is independently associated with the presence of cerebral small vessel disease in asymptomatic individuals.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Obesity is associated with the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. Visceral fat plays a significant role in the atherogenic effects of obesity. Whether visceral fat accumulation, as measured by computed tomography (CT), is an independent risk factor for the presence of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) was investigated. METHODS: This study comprised 506 Japanese subjects 35-74 years of age (mean 55.3 years) without a history of symptomatic cerebrovascular disease who underwent health screening tests, including brain magnetic resonance imaging, carotid echography and measurements of the visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) on abdominal CT. Visceral fat accumulation was defined as VFA ≥ 100 cm(2) . Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the associations between visceral fat accumulation and cerebral SVD such as white matter lesions (WMLs) and silent lacunar infarction (SLI). RESULTS: The prevalence of WMLs and SLI but not carotid plaque were significantly higher in subjects with VFA ≥ 100 cm(2) than those with VFA < 100 cm(2) . A VFA ≥ 100 cm(2) was associated with WMLs and SLI independent of age, cardiovascular risk factors and other measurements of obesity, such as waist circumference and body mass index. A large waist circumference was independently associated with SLI. SFA, the combination of VFA and SFA, and body mass index were not associated with WMLs or SLI. CONCLUSIONS: Visceral fat accumulation was independently associated with the presence of cerebral SVD in subjects without a history of symptomatic cerebrovascular disease.
Yamashiro et al. (Wed,) conducted a cross-sectional in Cerebral small vessel disease (n=506). Visceral fat accumulation (VFA ≥ 100 cm²) vs. VFA < 100 cm² was evaluated on Presence of cerebral small vessel disease (white matter lesions and silent lacunar infarction). Visceral fat accumulation (VFA ≥ 100 cm²) was independently associated with the presence of cerebral small vessel disease in subjects without prior symptomatic cerebrovascular disease.