Inverse association between body mass index and abdominal aortic calcification based on NHANES

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Health
• Obesity Research
• Radiology

Background:

• Global rise in obesity presents complex cardiovascular implications.
• Obesity is a known cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factor.
• Some studies suggest higher BMI may decrease vascular calcification risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between Body Mass Index (BMI) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) in a general population.
• To clarify the relationship between weight status and vascular calcification.
• To explore the

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 3,116 adults from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).
• Severe AAC diagnosis via Kauppila score using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
• Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline analysis to evaluate BMI-AAC relationship, including non-linear patterns.

Main Results:

• Higher BMI showed a significant inverse association with severe AAC (OR=0.89).
• Obese individuals had 62% lower odds of severe AAC compared to normal weight individuals (OR=0.38).
• This inverse relationship was consistent across subgroups and showed a significant non-linear trend.

Conclusions:

• An inverse association exists between BMI and AAC prevalence.
• Overweight and obesity may paradoxically offer protection against vascular calcification.
• Evidence supports the