The Association and Joint Effect of Adipocyte Fatty Acid Binding Protein and Obesity Phenotype With Cardiovascular Events.

CONTEXT

There is little evidence regarding the joint effect of serum adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (A-FABP) levels and obesity phenotype on the risk of cardiovascular events.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the association between serum A-FABP levels and obesity phenotype defined by fat percentage (fat%) and visceral fat area (VFA), and their joint impact on incident cardiovascular events.

METHODS

A total of 1345 residents (579 men and 766 women) without previous cardiovascular diseases at baseline, with body composition and serum A-FABP data available, were included. A bioelectrical impedance analyzer and magnetic resonance imaging were used to assess fat% and VFA, respectively.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up of 7.6 years, 136 cases of cardiovascular events (13.9 per 1000 person-years) occurred. Per 1-unit increase in loge-transformed A-FABP levels was associated with an increase in cardiovascular events risk (hazard ratio [HR] 1.87, 95% CI 1.33-2.63). The highest tertiles of fat% and VFA levels were related to higher risks of cardiovascular events (fat%: HR 2.38, 95% CI 1.49-3.81; VFA: HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.09-2.93). The association between A-FABP levels and cardiovascular events was more pronounced in participants with low fat%, regardless of VFA levels. The joint effect of high A-FABP levels and obesity resulted in a greater risk of cardiovascular events.

CONCLUSION

Serum A-FABP levels were significantly associated with the risk of cardiovascular events, and this pattern of association was more prominent among the population with low fat%, which was independent of VFA.