Association between abdominal fat distribution and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the relationship between abdominal fat distribution (AFD) and urinary albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) in Chinese adults.

METHODS

823 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM) were selected. Abdominal visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA) were measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Patients were divided into four groups: low VFA /low SFA, low VFA /high SFA, high VFA /low SFA, and high VFA /high SFA based on the median values (low: < median, high: ≥median).

RESULTS

In the multifactor analysis after adjusting for relevant factors, VFA, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and waist circumference (WC) showed significant positive correlations with UACR, while SFA and BMI did not. AFD combinations were independent predictors of UACR. The risk of UACR30-300 mg/g was highest in the high VFA/low SFA group (OR = 3.12), and for UACR > 300 mg/g, it was highest in the high VFA/high SFA group (OR = 24.69). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curvefor VFA prediction of UACR ≥ 30 mg/g was 0.69, significantly greater than that for WHtR, WHR, and WC. Optimal cut-off values were 98.8 cm² for VFA. When analyzed by gender, the optimal cut-off values for VFA were 98.8 cm² for males and 102.3 cm² for females.

CONCLUSION

Central obesity indicators (VFA, WHtR, WHR, WC) were associated with UACR. VFA was the strongest predictor for UACR ≥ 30 mg/g.