Ectopic adiposity and cardiometabolic health in COPD

Obesity/overweight is the most prevalent body composition abnormality in COPD. However, little is known about the impact of fat distribution on cardiometabolic health in COPD.

To study the associations between ectopic adiposity, cardiometabolic health, and COPD.

A total of 263 subjects (166 males; age=65±9 years) were randomly selected from the general population. Subjects were classified as non-COPD controls and COPD, according to the Global initiative for chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) classification, and the presence of cardiometabolic comorbidities was recorded. Ectopic fat accumulation was documented from computed tomography measurements of visceral adipose tissue cross-sectional areas and muscle mean attenuation, assessed at L4-L5. Blood glucose, lipid, and adipokine profiles were also evaluated.

After correcting for age, sex, and tobacco exposure, visceral adipose tissue cross-sectional area was higher in GOLD 2+ compared to GOLD 1 individuals. Consistent with this, mean muscle tissue attenuation was lower in GOLD 2+ vs GOLD 1 and non-COPD controls (P<0.001). In multiple regression models, visceral adipose tissue cross-sectional area was strongly associated with hypertension (P<0.001) and diabetes (P<0.001), while muscle attenuation was associated with coronary artery disease (P<0.001). Blood glucose, lipid, and adipokine profiles were similar across groups with the exception of leptin level which was higher in GOLD 2+ subjects compared to GOLD 1 and controls.

GOLD 2+ COPD was associated with ectopic fat accumulation which modulated cardiometabolic health.