Increased visceral and cardiac fat were significantly associated with higher aortic pulse wave velocity (p<0.01), with cardiac adipose tissue and VAT:SAT ratio showing stronger associations in females.
Cohort (n=16,636)
Visceral and cardiac fat are robust predictors of arterial stiffness, particularly in females, highlighting the importance of fat distribution beyond total fat mass in assessing vascular aging.
p-value: p=<0.01
Objective: Aortic stiffness, a hallmark of vascular aging, is closely linked to obesity. However, the sex-specific associations between aortic stiffness and detailed body composition remain poorly understood in the general population. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between aortic stiffness and body composition in the CARTaGENE cohort.Design and method: Adults aged 40 to 69 years from the CARTaGENE cohort were included (N=16636; 8603 females and 8033 males). Body composition was assessed using waist circumference, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), bioelectrical impedance analysis (fat mass and lean mass), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of cardiac adipose tissue (CAT), hepatic fat fraction (HFF), and abdominal fat compartments—visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) was derived through the estimated PWV. Results: The mean (SD) age was 55 (8) years, and the mean BMI was 27.5 (5.3) kg/m2. In males, higher PWV was associated with greater waist circumference, WHtR, fat mass, and lower lean and muscle mass (all p<0.05). MRI-derived measures showed that increased CAT, HFF, and VAT were also significantly associated with higher PWV (p<0.01). Among females, higher PWV was significantly associated with increased waist circumference, WHtR, CAT, HFF, and VAT (p<0.01). Importantly, CAT and the VAT:SAT ratio were more strongly associated with arterial stiffness in females than males. Conclusions: Visceral and cardiac fat are robust predictors of arterial stiffness, particularly among females. These findings underscore the importance of fat distribution—beyond total fat mass—in assessing vascular aging and guiding sex-specific cardiovascular risk strategies.
Jafari et al. (Fri,) conducted a cohort in General population (n=16,636). Body composition and fat distribution (visceral and cardiac fat) was evaluated on Aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV) (p=<0.01). Increased visceral and cardiac fat were significantly associated with higher aortic pulse wave velocity (p<0.01), with cardiac adipose tissue and VAT:SAT ratio showing stronger associations in females.