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Both overall adiposity and abdominal adiposity increase blood viscosity by separate mechanisms

Jean-Frédéric Brun1, Emmanuelle Varlet-Marie, Eric Raynaud de Mauverger

  • 1Physiopathologie & Médecine Expérimentale du Coeur et des Muscles INSERM U1046, Unité d'Explorations Métaboliques (CERAMM), Service Central de Physiologie Clinique, Hôpital Lapeyronie CHU Montpellier, France. j-brun@chu-montpellier.fr

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation
|October 21, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Both body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) increase blood viscosity through different mechanisms. WHR is a better predictor of blood viscosity than BMI, suggesting distinct impacts of general and abdominal adiposity on cardiovascular risk.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Physiology
  • Metabolic Health
  • Obesity Research

Background:

  • General adiposity (BMI) and abdominal adiposity (WHR) are linked to mortality risk.
  • The independent contributions of BMI and WHR to obesity-related diseases like diabetes and coronary heart disease (CHD) remain debated.
  • Most studies suggest BMI explains most obesity-related risks, but WHR may offer additional predictive value.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the separate effects of body mass index (BMI) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) on blood rheology.
  • To determine whether BMI or WHR is a better predictor of blood viscosity.
  • To elucidate the distinct mechanisms by which general and abdominal adiposity influence blood viscosity.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of blood rheology in 430 patients undergoing metabolic check-ups.
  • Assessment of age (11-77 yr) and BMI (15-50 kg/m2) spectrum.
  • Correlation and stepwise regression analyses to evaluate the relationships between BMI, WHR, and blood viscosity parameters (plasma viscosity, red blood cell aggregation, hematocrit).

Main Results:

  • Both BMI and WHR correlated with increased blood viscosity.
  • BMI's effect on viscosity was mediated by plasma viscosity and red blood cell aggregation.
  • WHR's effect on viscosity was primarily linked to hematocrit.
  • Stepwise regression identified WHR as a stronger predictor of blood viscosity, excluding BMI.

Conclusions:

  • Both overall adiposity (BMI) and abdominal adiposity (WHR) contribute to increased blood viscosity (hyperviscosity).
  • These associations reflect distinct pathophysiological mechanisms.
  • WHR may be a more significant predictor of blood viscosity and associated cardiovascular risk than BMI alone.

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