Head-to-head comparison of visceral adiposity indices (A Body Shape Index and Visceral Adiposity Index) with traditional anthropometrics: a community-based strategy for cardiovascular risk prediction in urban China
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) and composite obesity indices (COI) best predict cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in Chinese adults. Novel markers like a body shape index (ABSI) and visceral adiposity index (VAI) aid specific subgroup risk stratification.
Area Of Science
- Cardiovascular epidemiology
- Obesity research
- Public health
Background
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a leading cause of mortality globally.
- Accurate risk prediction is crucial for effective prevention strategies.
- Traditional anthropometric measures like BMI may not fully capture CVD risk associated with adiposity distribution.
Purpose Of The Study
- To compare the predictive performance of novel adiposity indices (ABSI, VAI) against traditional anthropometrics (BMI, WC, WHtR) for CVD risk in urban China.
- To evaluate composite obesity indices (COI) derived from principal component analysis (PCA).
- To assess optimized risk stratification strategies for CVD in the Chinese population.
Main Methods
- A community-based cross-sectional study involving 38,427 adults aged 35-79 years in Nanjing, China (2020-2023).
- Comparison of predictive performance using metrics like Area Under the Curve (AUC) and Odds Ratios (ORs).
- Assessment of multicollinearity among indices and evaluation of combined models for risk prediction.
Main Results
- Waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) showed the highest discriminative power for CVD risk (AUC=0.826), followed by a composite obesity index (COI; AUC=0.822).
- A body shape index (ABSI) demonstrated a clear risk gradient, and visceral adiposity index (VAI) had a modest significant effect.
- Composite indices mitigated multicollinearity issues present in traditional measures, and combined models offered comparable predictive accuracy with improved parsimony.
Conclusions
- WHtR and composite indices (COI) are superior predictors of CVD risk compared to other evaluated indices.
- ABSI and VAI can enhance CVD risk stratification within specific subgroups.
- Implementing WHtR-based screening, supplemented by composite indices and novel markers, can optimize CVD prevention strategies in urbanizing Chinese populations.

