Exploring the link between A Body Shape Index and abdominal aortic calcification in chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional analysis from 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BACKGROUND

Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is prevalent in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and linked to elevated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Obesity, linked to both CKD and CVD, can be better assessed by A Body Shape Index (ABSI), a novel index measuring central obesity and fat distribution. We posit that ABSI may correlate with AAC risk in CKD patients. This research explores the association using 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From the 2013-2014 NHANES dataset, we excluded participants lacking data on AAC or ABSI A total of 961 CKD subjects remained. Before analyzing ABSI as a continuous variable, we standardized it, denoting the result as ABSI. We then plotted restricted cubic splines (RCS). Follow-up univariate and multivariate regression, subgroup, and interaction analyses were conducted to explore the ABSI-AAC relationship.

RESULTS

The analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between ABSI and AAC in CKD patients (OR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.23-1.61,  < 0.001). Even after adjustment for multiple confounders, ABSI remained independently associated with AAC (OR = 1.38, 95%CI: 1.17-1.64,  < 0.001). Subgroup analyses further validated this association across various patient subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with CKD, this cross-sectional study identified a significant positive association between ABSI and AAC, persisting after adjusting for confounders. This suggests ABSI may be a biomarker for AAC risk assessment and CVD risk stratification in CKD patients.