Visceral adiposity index as a useful tool for the assessment of cardiometabolic disease risk in women aged 65 to 74

• Published in: Diabetes/metabolism research and reviews 2018-11, Vol.34 (8), p.e3052-n/a
• Main Authors: Dereziński, Tadeusz, Zozulińska‐Ziółkiewicz, Dorota, Uruska, Aleksandra, Dąbrowski, Mariusz
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Adiposity - physiology; Aged; Aging - metabolism; Ankle; Blood glucose; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnosis; Cardiovascular Diseases - etiology; Cardiovascular Diseases - pathology; carotid intima‐media thickness; Cerebral infarction; Creatinine; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diabetes; Diabetes mellitus; Female; Geriatrics; Glucose metabolism; Glucose tolerance; Health risk assessment; Health Status Indicators; Heart attacks; Hip; Humans; impaired kidney function; Intra-Abdominal Fat - pathology; Kidneys; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnosis; Metabolic Syndrome - etiology; Metabolic Syndrome - pathology; Myocardial infarction; Obesity, Abdominal - complications; Obesity, Abdominal - diagnosis; Obesity, Abdominal - pathology; Older people; prediabetes; Risk Assessment; visceral adiposity index; Womens health
• ISSN: 1520-7552; 1520-7560; 1520-7560
• DOI: 10.1002/dmrr.3052

Background The visceral adiposity index (VAI) is considered to be a reliable indicator of adipose tissue dysfunction and cardiometabolic disease risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate its usefulness in assessing cardiometabolic risk in a sample of elderly women living in a rural‐urban community in central Poland. Methods A total of 365 women aged 65 to 74 years were included in this cross‐sectional study. All patients were interviewed to obtain their history of diabetes mellitus, myocardial infarction, stroke, and revascularization. For all participants, anthropometric measurements were performed, then body mass index (BMI) and waist/hip ratio were calculated. Blood pressure was measured on the arm and on both ankles, and the ankle/brachial index was calculated. Blood samples were collected for the assessment of glycemia, lipid profile, and creatinine level. In patients with elevated fasting glucose, the test was repeated, or an oral glucose tolerance test was performed where appropriate. Finally, carotid intima‐media thickness was measured in all women. Results The VAI of participants was significantly correlated with a history of myocardial infarction, higher carotid intima‐media thickness, diabetes, prediabetes, and impaired kidney function. Furthermore, VAI demonstrated a better correlation with these endpoints than BMI or waist circumference. Conclusions The VAI can be considered a useful tool for the assessment of cardiometabolic disease risk in elderly women, with a score of ≥2.71 representing the cut‐off point for identifying females at high risk. In such patients, screening for cardiovascular disease, abnormal glucose metabolism, and impaired kidney function should be routine practice.