Visceral obesity, but not central obesity, is associated with cardiac remodeling in subjects with suspected metabolic syndrome

• Published in: Nutrition, metabolism, and cardiovascular diseases Vol. 29; no. 4; pp. 360 - 366
• Main Authors: Cho, D.-H., Kim, M.-N., Joo, H.J., Shim, W.J., Lim, D.-S., Park, S.-M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.04.2019
• Subjects: Abdominal Fat - diagnostic imaging; Abdominal Fat - metabolism; Abdominal Fat - physiopathology; adiponectin; Adiposity; bioelectrical impedance; Biomarkers - blood; blood glucose; blood pressure; C-reactive protein; Cardiovascular disease; cardiovascular diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases - blood; Cardiovascular Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Cardiovascular Diseases - physiopathology; echocardiography; Echocardiography, Doppler, Pulsed; Electric Impedance; Female; Humans; Intra-Abdominal Fat - diagnostic imaging; Intra-Abdominal Fat - metabolism; Intra-Abdominal Fat - physiopathology; Male; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - blood; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Metabolic Syndrome - physiopathology; metabolism; Middle Aged; obesity; Obesity, Abdominal - blood; Obesity, Abdominal - diagnostic imaging; Obesity, Abdominal - physiopathology; Prognosis; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; triacylglycerols; Ventricular Function, Left; Ventricular Remodeling; Visceral fat; Visceral obesity; Waist Circumference; Visceral fat; SBP; VFAl and VFAh; e; Cardiovascular disease; LV; Metabolic syndrome; WC; Visceral obesity; GLS; VFA; HDL; 2D; MetS; DBP; TG; hs-CRP; BMI
• ISSN: 0939-4753; 1590-3729; 1590-3729
• DOI: 10.1016/j.numecd.2019.01.007

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of multiple risk factors including central obesity that may lead to cardiac damage and cardiovascular events. We investigated whether visceral obesity induces cardiac structural and functional remodeling independently from central obesity and other risk factors in subjects with suspected MetS. We studied 229 participants with suspected MetS. Visceral fat area (VFA) was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Left ventricular (LV) mass index, early diastolic velocity of mitral annulus (e′), and LV global longitudinal strain (GLS) were measured by echocardiography. Subjects were categorized into high and low VFA group (VFAh and VFAl). MetS was more prevalent in the VFAh than in the VFAl (p = 0.004). The VFAh had a higher waist circumference (WC) than the VFAl (p < 0.001). LV mass index was higher, but e' and GLS were lower in the VFAh than in VFAl (all p < 0.05). VFA was well correlated with blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, triglyceride, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and adiponectin (all p < 0.05). VFA was correlated to LV mass index, e’, and GLS (all p < 0.05) and was independently associated with GLS after adjustment for other risk factors, including WC (p = 0.005). Visceral obesity assessed by VFA was well correlated with parameters of MetS. Visceral obesity, but not central obesity measured by WC, was independently associated with structural and functional cardiac remodeling in subjects with suspected MetS. It suggests that visceral obesity should be considered as an important risk factor for cardiac damage in dysmetabolic subjects. NCT02077530 (date of registration: November 1, 2013). •Visceral obesity is a potent risk factor for the development of cardiometabolic diseases.•It is unclear whether visceral obesity induces cardiac damage independently from components of metabolic syndrome.•Visceral obesity was correlated with blood pressure, dyslipidemia, and levels of hs-CRP and adiponectin.•Visceral obesity, but not central obesity, was associated with cardiac remodeling in subjects with suspected MetS.