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Atherosclerosis in relation to fat penniculus (obesity) between xiphoid and umbilicus

Amjad Naeem1, Ruhila Hanif

  • 1Department of Pathology, Akhtar Saeed Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan. dramjadnaeem@yahoo.com

Journal of Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad : JAMC
|March 18, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Obesity, measured by abdominal fat thickness, is linked to atherosclerosis. Thicker abdominal fat (20-30 mm) correlates with more severe atherosclerotic lesions in the heart and aorta.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Pathology
  • Obesity Research
  • Atherosclerosis Studies

Background:

  • Body weight influences atherosclerosis, particularly coronary artery disease in men, with significant impact when BMI exceeds 30.
  • Obesity's effect on life expectancy is less pronounced in women compared to men.
  • Abdominal obesity, specifically the thickness of the fat layer between the xiphoid process and umbilicus, is investigated for its association with atherosclerotic lesions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the relationship between abdominal fat thickness (fat penniculus) and various atherosclerotic lesions.
  • To gather data on the age and sex distribution of this relationship.

Main Methods:

  • A prospective descriptive study involving 130 human autopsies over 1.5 years.
  • Measurement of the fat penniculus between the xiphoid and umbilicus.
  • Categorization and correlation of atherosclerotic lesions (fatty streaks, fibrolipid plaques, calcified lesions) with abdominal fat thickness using histological stains.

Main Results:

  • Fatty streaks were more prevalent in cases with a fat penniculus < 20 mm compared to those < 10 mm or < 30 mm.
  • Fibrolipid plaques, complicated, and calcified lesions were predominantly found in cases with a fat penniculus < 30 mm on a percentage basis.
  • Raised atherosclerotic lesions were more frequent in individuals with a fat penniculus between 20 mm and < 30 mm.

Conclusions:

  • Abdominal fat thickness is associated with the presence and severity of atherosclerotic lesions.
  • A fat penniculus thickness of 20 mm to < 30 mm showed a higher frequency of raised atherosclerotic lesions.
  • The study provides foundational data on the link between abdominal obesity and atherosclerosis.
Abstract

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