Is visceral abdominal fat area a better indicator for hyperglycemic risk? Results from the Pinggu Metabolic Disease Study.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: The aim of the present study was to analyze the strength of association between fasting plasma glucose (FPG), 2-h postprandial glucose (2h PPG), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), disposition index (DI) and nine anthropometrics measures, to explore the best indicator for hyperglycemia.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Analyses were based on the cross-sectional data of 3,572 adults from the Pinggu Metabolic Disease Study. Anthropometrics were measured, visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area were calculated using an abdominal computed tomography scan. Linear regression was used to analyze the association between FPG, 2h PPG, HbA1c, DI and nine anthropometrics measures (height, weight, waist circumference [WC], body mass index and waist-to-hip ratio [WHR], waist-to-height ratio, VFA, subcutaneous fat area, and visceral-to-subcutaneous ratio). Logistic regression was further carried out to understand the association between per standard increase and risk for hyperglycemia.

RESULTS

Higher VFA and subcutaneous fat area were associated with higher FPG, 2h PPG, HbA1c and DI after adjusting for other covariates. The strongest association observed after adjustment was WC for FPG, with one standard deviation greater WC being associated with 1.70 increased odds; WHR for 2h PPG, with one standard deviation greater WHR being associated with 1.83 increased odds. The strength of the association between VFA and FPG, 2h PPG, HbA1c, and DI was less than WHR and WC, but slightly stronger than body mass index. Stratified analyses showed that VFA performs better as an anthropometrics indicator in predicting hyperglycemic risk in women than men.

CONCLUSIONS

WHR and WC remain the best indicators for hyperglycemic risk among ahealthy Chinese population.