The association between visceral adiposity index and decreased renal function: A population-based study

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Cardiovascular Health
• Metabolic Syndrome

Background:

• Visceral adiposity, a key component of metabolic syndrome, is increasingly recognized for its detrimental effects on organ systems.
• The visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a novel indicator of visceral fat accumulation.
• Understanding the relationship between VAI and kidney function is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and decreased renal function in a large cohort of US adults.
• To determine if VAI is independently associated with albuminuria, low estimated-glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional analysis of 35,018 US adults from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2018.
• VAI calculated using waist circumference, BMI, triglycerides, and HDL-cholesterol.
• Logistic regression models adjusted for confounders to assess the relationship between VAI and renal function markers (albuminuria, low eGFR, CKD).

Main Results:

• Increased prevalence of albuminuria, low eGFR, and CKD was observed with higher VAI tertiles.
• A positive association was found between VAI and albuminuria (OR=1.03) and CKD (OR=1.04) after full adjustment.
• The highest VAI tertile was associated with a 30% increased risk of albuminuria and a 27% increased risk of CKD compared to the lowest tertile.

Conclusions:

• Visceral adiposity, as indicated by VAI, is associated with an increased likelihood of declining renal function.
• VAI may serve as a valuable marker for identifying individuals at higher risk for kidney disease, particularly albuminuria and CKD.