Giulio Geraci1, Marta Zammuto2, Rossella Gaetani2, Alessandro Mattina3, Francesco D'Ignoto2, Calogero Geraci2, Davide Noto3, Maurizio Averna3, Santina Cottone2, Giuseppe Mulè2. 1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Promozione della Salute, Materno-Infantile, Medicina Interna e Specialistica d'Eccellenza "G. D'Alessandro" (PROMISE), Unit of Nephrology and Hypertension, European Society of Hypertension Excellence Center, University of Palermo, Italy. Electronic address: giulio.geraci@unipa.it. 2. Dipartimento di Scienze della Promozione della Salute, Materno-Infantile, Medicina Interna e Specialistica d'Eccellenza "G. D'Alessandro" (PROMISE), Unit of Nephrology and Hypertension, European Society of Hypertension Excellence Center, University of Palermo, Italy. 3. Dipartimento di Scienze della Promozione della Salute, Materno-Infantile, Medicina Interna e Specialistica d'Eccellenza "G. D'Alessandro" (PROMISE), Unit of Internal Medicine, University of Palermo, Italy.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and Body Roundness Index (BRI) are two new anthropometric adiposity indices that have shown to be associated better than BMI with adipose abdominal tissue, with the onset of diabetes and the risk of premature death. Little is known about the influence of ABSI and BRI on subclinical vascular damage. The study was aimed to assess the relationship between ABSI and BRI with carotid atherosclerosis damage in subjects with arterial hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 468 patients with arterial hypertension (30-80 years old) were enrolled; adiposity indices were calculated (BMI, WC, ABSI, BRI) and carotid ultrasonographic examination was performed to detect atherosclerotic damage (IMT or atherosclerotic plaque). BRI, but not ABSI, was higher in subjects with IMT> 0.90 mm in comparison to those with a lower IMT (p < 0.001), whereas patients with carotid plaques showed higher values of ABSI (p = 0.001), as well as of BRI (p = 0.003). Linear regression analysis disclosed significant correlation of IMT with ABSI, BRI and BMI (all p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, BRI was independently correlated with cIMT (p = 0.015). On the contrary, ABSI did not show any independent association with cIMT. However, ABSI was strongly associated with carotid plaques in multiple logistic regression analysis after adjustment for potential confounding factors. When BRI or BMI replaced ABSI into the multivariate models, they did not show any independent correlation with carotid plaques. CONCLUSIONS: ABSI may be proposed as a better correlate of carotid atherosclerosis than the traditional measures of adiposity.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A Body Shape Index (ABSI) and Body Roundness Index (BRI) are two new anthropometric adiposity indices that have shown to be associated better than BMI with adipose abdominal tissue, with the onset of diabetes and the risk of premature death. Little is known about the influence of ABSI and BRI on subclinical vascular damage. The study was aimed to assess the relationship between ABSI and BRI with carotid atherosclerosis damage in subjects with arterial hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 468 patients with arterial hypertension (30-80 years old) were enrolled; adiposity indices were calculated (BMI, WC, ABSI, BRI) and carotid ultrasonographic examination was performed to detect atherosclerotic damage (IMT or atherosclerotic plaque). BRI, but not ABSI, was higher in subjects with IMT> 0.90 mm in comparison to those with a lower IMT (p < 0.001), whereas patients with carotid plaques showed higher values of ABSI (p = 0.001), as well as of BRI (p = 0.003). Linear regression analysis disclosed significant correlation of IMT with ABSI, BRI and BMI (all p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, BRI was independently correlated with cIMT (p = 0.015). On the contrary, ABSI did not show any independent association with cIMT. However, ABSI was strongly associated with carotid plaques in multiple logistic regression analysis after adjustment for potential confounding factors. When BRI or BMI replaced ABSI into the multivariate models, they did not show any independent correlation with carotid plaques. CONCLUSIONS:ABSI may be proposed as a better correlate of carotid atherosclerosis than the traditional measures of adiposity.