Anthropometric, body composition, and ultrasound parameters of subcutaneous abdominal fat deposition in female cardiology patients and their association with hypertension

Aim. To evaluate the relationship between anthropometric parameters of central adiposity, body composition, and ultrasound thickness of the anterior abdominal wall and subcutaneous tissue with hypertension (HTN) in female cardiology patients. Material and methods. In 2025, a single-center cross-sectional study was conducted at the Clinical Hospital № 1, involving 40 female cardiology patients, aged 20 to 81 years. Anthropometric measurements were taken to calculate body mass index and waist-to-height ratio, assess body composition using a BodyMetrix BX2000 system (IntelaMetrix, USA). In addition, we perform an ultrasound of abdominal wall tissues to determine the Ultrasound Skin parameter — the combined thickness of the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis of the anterior abdominal wall. HTN status was determined based on medical records and history, including previous diagnoses, antihypertensive therapy, and/or a documented increase in office blood pressure ≥140/90 mm Hg. HTN-/HTN+ groups were formed post hoc. Statistical analysis included intergroup comparisons, Spearman correlation analysis, binomial logistic regression, and ROC analysis. Results. HTN was detected in 23 of 40 patients (57,5%). Patients with HTN had significantly higher age, glucose and total cholesterol levels, body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio, and the Ultrasound Skin parameter. The most pronounced differences among the parameters characterizing the abdominal obesity phenotype were observed for the ultrasound assessment of skin and subcutaneous tissue thickness. Most anthropometric and body composition characteristics were highly correlated, while the ultrasound metric retained additional information. A combined logistic regression model including glucose, age, fat mass, and the Ultrasound Skin parameter demonstrated the best discriminatory performance (AUC=0,913). According to the ROC analysis for the Ultrasound Skin parameter, the optimal threshold for detecting hypertension was 27 mm. Conclusion. In female cardiology patients, HTN was associated with anthropometric indices of central adiposity and greater ultrasound thickness of the skin and subcutaneous tissue of anterior abdominal wall. The obtained data make it possible to consider ultrasound assessment of local subcutaneous abdominal fat depot as a promising indicator that requires confirmation in larger studies.