Visceral adiposity index is associated with silent brain infarct in a healthy population

Ki-Woong Nam,Hyung-Min Kwon,Su-Min Jeong,Hyun-Jin Kim,Jin-Ho Park,Han-Yeong Jeong,Hyuktae Kwon

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-74454-6

Ki-Woong Nam, Hyung-Min Kwon + Show 5 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74454-6

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Abstract

Visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been associated with various cardio-metabolic diseases; however, there is limited information about its association with cerebrovascular diseases. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between VAI and silent brain infarct (SBI). We evaluated a consecutive series of healthy volunteers over the age of 40 between January 2006 and December 2013. SBI was defined as an asymptomatic, well-defined lesion with a diameter ≥ 3 mm with the same signal characteristics as the cerebrospinal fluid. VAI was calculated using sex-specific equations as described in previous studies. A total of 2596 subjects were evaluated, and SBI was found in 218 (8%) participants. In multivariable analysis, VAI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.30; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03–1.66; P = 0.030) remained a significant predictor of SBI after adjustment for confounders. The close relationship between VAI and SBI was prominent only in females (aOR = 1.44; 95% CI 1.00–2.07; P = 0.048). In the evaluation between VAI and the burden of SBI, VAI showed a positive dose–response relationship with the number of SBI lesions (P for trend = 0.037). High VAI was associated with a higher prevalence and burden of SBI in a neurologically healthy population.

Highlights

Visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been associated with various cardio-metabolic diseases; there is limited information about its association with cerebrovascular diseases
In a multivariable logistic regression analysis to find possible predictors for silent brain infarct (SBI), VAI remained significant after adjusting for confounders [adjusted odds ratio = 1.30; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03–1.66; P = 0.030]
We found that high VAI level was associated with both SBI prevalence and burden in a neurologically healthy population, while Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area was not

Summary

Introduction

Visceral adiposity index (VAI) has been associated with various cardio-metabolic diseases; there is limited information about its association with cerebrovascular diseases. As shown in recent studies on “metabolically healthy obesity”, in addition to problems with quantity of adipose tissue, functional aspects such as the presence of accompanying metabolic diseases must be considered[1,4] On this theoretical basis, Amato et al developed a sex-specific index for predicting VAT mass and function using waist circumference (WC), BMI, triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol 8. Amato et al developed a sex-specific index for predicting VAT mass and function using waist circumference (WC), BMI, triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol 8 This visceral adiposity index (VAI) was closely associated with metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, and even atherosclerosis[10,11,12,13,14]. Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, 20 Boramae‐ro 5‐gil, Dongjak‐gu, Seoul 07061, South Korea. 3Departments of Family Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine and Seoul National University Hospital, 101 Daehak‐ro, Jongno‐gu, Seoul 03080, South Korea. 4Departments of Family

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