Cardiometabolic index and cardiovascular disease incidence in middle-aged and older Chinese: A nationwide prospective...

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Metabolic Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of mortality globally.
• The cardiometabolic index (CMI), combining lipid metabolism and central obesity, has an uncertain role in CVD prediction.
• Evaluating novel risk predictors like CMI is crucial for public health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the association between the cardiometabolic index (CMI) and incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a Chinese adult population.
• To investigate potential nonlinear relationships and effect modifications in the CMI-CVD association.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 7830 Chinese adults (aged ≥45 years) without baseline CVD was followed for 7 years.
• CMI was calculated using waist circumference, height, triglycerides, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
• Multivariable logistic regression and restricted cubic spline models analyzed CMI's association with incident CVD.

Main Results:

• Higher CMI was significantly associated with increased CVD risk (OR=1.39, 95% CI: 1.11-1.96).
• A nonlinear relationship was observed, with CVD risk rising disproportionately with higher CMI levels (P for nonlinearity = .002).
• Effect modification was noted for diabetes status and alcohol consumption.

Conclusions:

• The cardiometabolic index (CMI) is a valuable predictor of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) in middle-aged and older Chinese adults.
• A nonlinear, increasing risk pattern highlights the importance of monitoring CMI for CVD prevention.
• Further research should explore CMI's clinical utility in diverse populations.