Application of Visceral Adiposity Index and Anthropometry to Identify Preclinical Atherosclerosis in Menopausal Status Women
Pattama Tongdee MD*, Ryan A. Loyd MD**, Kaset Winwan MPolSc***, Porntip Nimkuntod MD****
Affiliation : * School of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand ** School of Family and Community Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand *** Research Assistance, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand **** School of Internal Medicine, Institute of Medicine, Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand
Background : Obesity is associated with a major prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and high risk of cardiovascular
events and contributes to the increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Abdominal obesity is a main
predictive factor of the metabolic syndrome, so it is certain that it represents a preferable marker of cardiovascular risk than
generalized obesity. Visceral adiposity index (VAI) has recently been suggested to be used as a surrogate of visceral adiposity.
Objective : We compared the predictive abilities of the VAI with those of simple anthropometric measures in preclinical
atherosclerosis, as assessed by ultrasonographic measurement of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT).
Material and Method: This is observational cross-sectional study involving 130 menopausal status women voluntarily
recruited from Suranaree University of Technology Hospital, Thailand. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC),
waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist-height ratio (WHtR) and lipid profile were determined. VAI was calculated. CIMT was assessed
using a high-resolution B mode ultrasound system.
Results : Total 114/130 menopausal status participants, 16 participants were excluded from morbid obesity and high triglyceride
>400 mg/dL. About 22.3% had preclinical atherosclerosis on carotid ultrasound. Positive correlation was found between
CIMT and WC (r = 0.20, p = 0.04), and WHR (r = 0.25, p<0.01) and WHtR (r = 0.24, p = 0.01). However, there was no
correlation between VAI and CIMT.
Conclusion : Using VAI instead of simple anthropometric measures may lead to loss of much information needed for
predicting preclinical atherosclerosis. WC, WHR, and WHtR were both superior to VAI in predicting CIMT.
Keywords : Visceral adiposity index, Anthropometry, Preclinical atherosclerosis, Menopausal status women
