Visceral Adiposity Index in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Endocrinology
• Cardiology

Background:

• Breast cancer (BC) is a leading cause of cancer morbidity and mortality in women.
• Obesity is linked to breast cancer, but its impact on survivors' health, particularly fat accumulation, remains unclear.
• The visceral adiposity index (VAI) indicates cardiometabolic risk and adipose tissue dysfunction, but its changes in BC survivors are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the visceral adiposity index (VAI) in women with a history of breast cancer (survivors) versus women without a history of breast cancer (controls).

Main Methods:

• A case-control cross-sectional study design was employed.
• Participants included women who survived breast cancer and a control group without a history of BC.
• VAI was calculated using waist circumference (WC), body mass index (BMI), triacylglycerols (TG), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Body composition was assessed via electrical bioimpedance.

Main Results:

• The study included 49 BC survivors and 50 controls.
• Breast cancer survivors exhibited significantly wider WC (93.65 ± 10.48 cm vs. 88.52 ± 9.61 cm, p=0.025).
• Significantly higher levels of triacylglycerols (TG) (243.55 ± 199.84 vs. 159.84 ± 75.77, p=0.007) and VAI (11.03 ± 11.15 vs. 6.41 ± 3.66, p < 0.005) were observed in BC survivors.

Conclusions:

• Visceral adiposity index (VAI) is elevated in breast cancer survivors compared to age- and weight-matched controls.
• This suggests a potentially higher cardiometabolic risk profile in breast cancer survivors.
• Further research is warranted to understand the implications of VAI changes in BC survivors.