Visceral Adiposity Index as an Independent Marker of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Individuals Prone to Diabetes Mellitus

Elko Randrianarisoa; Angela Lehn-Stefan; Anja Hieronimus; Roderich Rietig; Andreas Fritsche; Jürgen Machann; Bernd Balletshofer; Hans-Ulrich Häring; Norbert Stefan; Kilian Rittig

doi:10.5551/jat.47274

This article has now been updated. Please use the final version.

Visceral Adiposity Index as an Independent Marker of Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Individuals Prone to Diabetes Mellitus

Elko Randrianarisoa, Angela Lehn-Stefan, Anja Hieronimus, Roderich Rietig, Andreas Fritsche, Jürgen Machann, Bernd Balletshofer, Hans-Ulrich Häring, Norbert Stefan, Kilian Rittig

Author information

Elko Randrianarisoa
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Vascular Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Tübingen
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
Angela Lehn-Stefan
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Vascular Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Tübingen
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
Anja Hieronimus
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Vascular Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Tübingen
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
Roderich Rietig
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Vascular Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Tübingen
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
Andreas Fritsche
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Vascular Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Tübingen
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
Jürgen Machann
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
Section on Experimental Radiology, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Tübingen
Bernd Balletshofer
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Vascular Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Tübingen
Hans-Ulrich Häring
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Vascular Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Tübingen
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
Norbert Stefan
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Vascular Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Tübingen
Institute for Diabetes Research and Metabolic Diseases (IDM) of the Helmholtz Center Munich at the University of Tübingen
German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD)
Kilian Rittig
Department of Internal Medicine IV, Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Vascular Medicine, Nephrology and Clinical Chemistry, University Hospital of Tübingen
Department of Internal Medicine, Deutsches Rotes Kreuz Kliniken Berlin

Keywords: Carotid intima–media thickness, Visceral adiposity index, Insulin resistance, Diabetes mellitus, Metabolic syndrome

JOURNAL OPEN ACCESS Advance online publication

Article ID: 47274

DOI https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.47274

The final version of this article is now available: Vol. 26 (2019), No. 9

Details

Abstract

Aim: The visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been proposed as an estimate of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) mass and as an indicator of VAT dysfunction. Both parameters are associated with cardiometabolic risk, including insulin resistance. In this study, we investigated whether VAI is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in subjects who were free of cardiovascular disease but were at risk of developing diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A total of 731 adults with a median age of 47 years old without diabetes mellitus were included in this cross-sectional study. The anthropometric data, blood pressure, and lipid profiles of 398 women and 333 men were measured. All subjects underwent an oral glucose tolerance test, and carotid intima–media thickness (cIMT) was evaluated by ultrasound. Insulin resistance was estimated using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR).

Results: VAI and HOMA-IR (ß_st=0.44, p＜0.0001), VAI and cIMT (ß_st=0.17, p＜0.0001), and HOMA-IR and cIMT (ß_st=0.09, p=0.0127) were correlated with each other. After adjusting for cofounding variables, VAI is still correlated with HOMA-IR (ß_st=0.42, p＜0.0001). Furthermore, VAI (ß_st=0.07, p=0.0392) but not HOMA-IR (ß_st=0.03, p=0.37) was correlated with cIMT independently of other established cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusion: The calculation of VAI may provide a better estimation of subclinical atherosclerosis than the calculation of HOMA-IR.

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