Visceral fat area and cardiometabolic risk: The Kardiovize study

Visceral fat is associated with adiposity-based complications. Bioimpedance measurement allows estimation of visceral fat area (VFA) in an easy manner. However, a validated cut-off value for VFA by bioimpedance associated with cardiometabolic risk is lacking in European population.

To determine cut-off values of VFA measured via bioimpedance associated with cardiometabolic risk.

Random cross-sectional Czech population-based sample of 25-64 years old subjects. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves were used and the area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, and specificity were calculated. The Cardiometabolic Disease Staging System (CMDS) was used to classify cardiometabolic risk: Stage 1 - 1 or 2 metabolic syndrome (MetS) components, without impaired fasting glucose (IFG); Stage 2 - MetS or IFG; Stage 3 - MetS with IFG; Stage 4 - type 2 diabetes and/or cardiovascular disease.

2052 participants (54.5% females, median age 49 years) were included. Median VFA (inter-quartile range) were 82.2 cm² (54.8) in men and 89.8 cm² (55.6) in women. The best VFA cut-offs associated with Stage 1 in men and women were 71 cm² (sensitivity = 0.654; specificity = 0.427) and 83 cm² (sensitivity = 0.705; specificity = 0.556) ; Stage 2: 84 cm² (sensitivity = 0.673; specificity = 0.551) and 98 cm² (sensitivity = 0.702; specificity = 0.628) ; Stage 3: 90 cm² (sensitivity = 0.886; specificity = 0.605) and 109 cm² (sensitivity = 0.755; specificity = 0.704); Stage 4: 91 cm² (sensitivity = 0.625; specificity = 0.611) and 81 cm² (sensitivity = 0.695; specificity = 0.448), respectively.

A cut-off value of VFA of 71 cm² in men and 83 cm² in women exhibited the earliest stage of cardiometabolic risk, and 90 cm² in men and 109 cm² in women showed the best performance to detect risk.