Visceral fat area and cardiometabolic risk: The Kardiovize study.

BACKGROUND

Visceral fat is associated with adiposity-based complications. Bioimpedance measurement allows estimation of visceral fat area (VFA) in an easy manner. However, a validated cut-off value for VFA by bioimpedance associated with cardiometabolic risk is lacking in European population.

AIM

To determine cut-off values of VFA measured via bioimpedance associated with cardiometabolic risk.

METHODS

Random cross-sectional Czech population-based sample of 25-64 years old subjects. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used and the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. The Cardiometabolic Disease Staging System (CMDS) was used to classify cardiometabolic risk: Stage 1 - 1 or 2 metabolic syndrome (MetS) components, without impaired fasting glucose (IFG); Stage 2 - MetS or IFG; Stage 3 - MetS with IFG; Stage 4 - type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease.

RESULTS

2052 participants (54.5% females, median age 49 years) were included. Median VFA (inter-quartile range) were 82.2 cm (54.8) in men and 89.8 cm (55.6) in women. The best VFA cut-offs associated with Stage 1 in men and women were 71 cm (sensitivity = 0.654; specificity = 0.427) and 83 cm (sensitivity = 0.705; specificity = 0.556) ; Stage 2: 84 cm (sensitivity = 0.673; specificity = 0.551) and 98 cm (sensitivity = 0.702; specificity = 0.628) ; Stage 3: 90 cm (sensitivity = 0.886; specificity = 0.605) and 109 cm (sensitivity = 0.755; specificity = 0.704); Stage 4: 91 cm (sensitivity = 0.625; specificity = 0.611) and 81 cm (sensitivity = 0.695; specificity = 0.448), respectively.

CONCLUSION

A cut-off value of VFA of 71 cm in men and 83 cm in women exhibited the earliest stage of cardiometabolic risk, and 90 cm in men and 109 cm in women showed the best performance to detect risk.