Yuyan Liu1, Akira Fujiyoshi1,2, Hisatomi Arima3,4, Aya Kadota1,3, Sayaka Kadowaki1, Takashi Hisamatsu1,5, Itsuko Miyazawa6, Keiko Kondo1, Ikuo Tooyama7, Katsuyuki Miura1,3, Hirotsugu Ueshima1,3. 1. Department of Public Health, Shiga University of Medical Science. 2. Department of Hygiene, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University. 3. Center for Epidemiologic Research in Asia, Shiga University of Medical Science. 4. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Fukuoka University. 5. Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, Shimane University. 6. Department of Medicine, Shiga University of Medical Science. 7. Molecular Neuroscience Research Center, Shiga University of Medical Science.
Abstract
AIM: Computed tomography (CT) can directly provide information on body compositions and distributions, compared to anthropometric indices. It has been shown that various obesity indices are associated with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). However, whether CT-based obesity indices are stronger than anthropometric indices in association with atherosclerosis remains to be determined in a general population. METHODS: We cross-sectionally assessed carotid IMT using ultrasound in 944 community-dwelling Japanese men free of stroke and myocardial infarction. CT image at the L4-L5 level was obtained to compute areas of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Anthropometric measures assessed included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. Using multivariable linear regression, slopes of IMT per 20th to 80th percentile of each index were compared. We also compared the slope of index with simultaneous adjustment for BMI in the same model. RESULTS: Areas of VAT and SAT were positively associated with IMT, but not stronger than those of anthropometric indices in point estimates. Among all obesity indices, BMI was strongest in association with IMT after adjusting for age and lifestyle factors or further adjusting for metabolic factors. In simultaneous adjustment models, BMI, but not CT-based indices, remained significant and showed the strongest association. CONCLUSIONS: In community-dwelling Japanese men, anthropometric obesity indices, BMI in particular, were more strongly associated with carotid atherosclerosis than CT-based obesity indices. The association of general obesity with carotid atherosclerosis was strong and adding CT-based obesity measure did not considerably influence in the association.
AIM: Computed tomography (CT) can directly provide information on body compositions and distributions, compared to anthropometric indices. It has been shown that various obesity indices are associated with carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). However, whether CT-based obesity indices are stronger than anthropometric indices in association with atherosclerosis remains to be determined in a general population. METHODS: We cross-sectionally assessed carotid IMT using ultrasound in 944 community-dwelling Japanese men free of stroke and myocardial infarction. CT image at the L4-L5 level was obtained to compute areas of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT). Anthropometric measures assessed included body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and waist-to-hip ratio. Using multivariable linear regression, slopes of IMT per 20th to 80th percentile of each index were compared. We also compared the slope of index with simultaneous adjustment for BMI in the same model. RESULTS: Areas of VAT and SAT were positively associated with IMT, but not stronger than those of anthropometric indices in point estimates. Among all obesity indices, BMI was strongest in association with IMT after adjusting for age and lifestyle factors or further adjusting for metabolic factors. In simultaneous adjustment models, BMI, but not CT-based indices, remained significant and showed the strongest association. CONCLUSIONS: In community-dwelling Japanese men, anthropometric obesity indices, BMI in particular, were more strongly associated with carotid atherosclerosis than CT-based obesity indices. The association of general obesity with carotid atherosclerosis was strong and adding CT-based obesity measure did not considerably influence in the association.
Authors: Y Wang; X Ma; M Zhou; W Zong; L Zhang; Y Hao; J Zhu; Y Xiao; D Li; Y Bao; W Jia Journal: Int J Obes (Lond) Date: 2011-11-29 Impact factor: 5.095