MEASURES OF WAIST AND HIP MODIFY SEX-SPECIFIC ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN BODY MASS INDEX AND PREVALENCE OF CORONARY ARTERY CALCIFICATION IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS

• Background: Obesity is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. However, there is still a debate whether accumulation of fat in certain depots modifies this risk. Using data from the CArdioPulmonary bioImage Study (SCAPIS), we investigated if anthropometric measurements of obesity (waist and hip) modifies the risk of coronary artery calcification. Methods: In the first 15,810 participants in SCAPIS (mean age 58 years, 52% women), data on coronary artery calcification score (CACS) and anthropometry were recorded and traditional cardiovascular risk factors were measured. Body mass index (BMI) was categorized as; <25, 25-30, 30-35 and >35 kg/m2 , quartiles of waist and hip circumferences were constructed within each BMI category and compared using the lowest quartile as reference. Results were adjusted for site, age, smoking and diabetes status. Results: Obesity (BMI >30 kg/m2 ) was found in 21.9% of men and in 20.5% of women. In both sexes the odds ratio (OR) for CACS >0 increased with increasing BMI categories: comparing <25 and >35 kg/m2 , OR = 2.1 (95% CI: 1.6-2.7) for men and OR = 1.4 (1.2-1.8) for women. In addition, increasing quartiles of waist significantly increased the prevalence of CACS >0 for men [p = 0.05; OR = 1.2 (1.0-1.4) for highest quartile] and women [p = 0.005; OR = 1.3 (1.1-1.5)] while increasing quartiles of hip significantly decreased the prevalence for men [p = 0.005; OR = 0.8 (0.6-0.9)] and women [p = 0.04; OR = 0.8 (0.7-0.9)]. Data on education level and physical activity did not affect the model. Conclusion: Increased BMI is associated with increased prevalence of coronary artery calcification and the distribution of fat modifies this risk. Our results suggest that gluteofemoral adipose tissue (hip) counteracts the negative effects associated with BMI and abdominal adipose tissue (waist).

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Folkhälsovetenskap, global hälsa, socialmedicin och epidemiologi (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Public Health, Global Health, Social Medicine and Epidemiology (hsv//eng)

Publication and Content Type

vet (subject category)

art (subject category)