Body Fat Distribution Predicts Cardiac Risk Factors in Older Female Coronary Patients

BACKGROUND: After myocardial infarction, women have higher rates of recurrent coronary events than men. This is caused, at least in part, by a higher prevalence of obesity-related coronary risk factors such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, insulin resistance, and diabetes. We studied the relationship between measures of body fat distribution, body composition, aerobic fitness, and dietary intake and several coronary risk factors including lipids, glucose, and insulin levels. METHODS: The study population included 20 women > 60 years of age with recently diagnosed coronary heart disease and a comparison group of 50 healthy women with low-risk coronary risk profiles. Dependent variables included lipid subfractions (fasting, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein HDL cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein LDL cholesterol), glucose levels, and serum insulin levels. RESULTS: Waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) was the best predictor of serum triglyceride levels (r = .65, P = .002), HDL cholesterol level (r = .46, P = .05), and fasting serum insulin levels (r = .76, P < .001) whereas peak oxygen consumption (Peak VO2) was the best predictor of LDL cholesterol (r = .73, P < .001). In a combined population of the 20 coronary patients and 50 healthy age-matched controls, WHR remained the best predictor of serum triglyceride levels (r = .57, P < .001) and insulin levels (r = .63, P < .001) and Peak V02 was the best predictor of HDL (r = .40, P < .001) and LDL cholesterol (r = .57, P = .004). CONCLUSIONS: Body fat distribution and peak aerobic fitness, both modifiable factors, are significant predictors of risk factors for second coronary events in older female coronary patients.