Association Between a Body Shape Index and Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis in Population Free of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases

Healthy lifestyles and rapid progression of carotid plaque in population with atherosclerosis: A prospective cohort study in China

Background

Healthy lifestyles are effective means to reduce major cardiovascular events. However, little is known about the association of healthy lifestyles with development of carotid atherosclerosis at the early stage of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).

Methods

We enrolled participants from Fujian province in the China PEACE MPP project. We calculated a healthy lifestyle score by adherence to non-smoking, sufficient physical activity, healthy diet and healthy body mass index. Cox proportional hazards regression models and restricted cubic splines (RCS) were used to explore the association between the healthy lifestyles and rapid progression of carotid plaque.

Results

8379 participants were included (mean age: 60.6 ± 8.3 years, 54.6 % female), with a median follow-up of 1.2 years (inter quartile range: 1.0-1.6). RCS showed a significant inverse association between the healthy lifestyle score and progression of carotid plaque. Participants with "intermediate" (HR: 0.72 [95 % confidence interval (CI): 0.65-0.80]) or "ideal" (HR: 0.68 [0.59-0.78]) adherence to healthy lifestyles had a lower risk of progression of carotid plaque compared to those with "poor" adherence. Age, sex, occupation, income, residence type and metabolic status were significant factors influencing the relationship. Farmers benefited more in non-smoking and sufficient physical activity compared to non-farmers, and participants with lower income or without dyslipidaemia benefited more in sufficient physical activity and healthy diet compared to their counterparts (p-for-interaction < 0.05).

Conclusions

Healthy lifestyles were associated with lower risk of progression of carotid plaque in populations with atherosclerosis. Promotion of healthy lifestyles from the early stage of carotid atherosclerosis could reduce the burden of CVDs in China.

Novel anthropometric indicators of visceral obesity predict the severity of hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis

BACKGROUND

Obesity substantially contributes to the onset of acute pancreatitis (AP) and influences its progression to severe AP. Although body mass index (BMI) is a widely used anthropometric parameter, it fails to delineate the distribution pattern of adipose tissue. To circumvent this shortcoming, the predictive efficacies of novel anthropometric indicators of visceral obesity, such as lipid accumulation products (LAP), cardiometabolic index (CMI), body roundness index (BRI), visceral adiposity index (VAI), A Body Shape Index (ABSI), and Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) were examined to assess the severity of AP.

METHOD

The body parameters and laboratory indices of 283 patients with hyperlipidemic acute pancreatitis (HLAP) were retrospectively analysed, and the six novel anthropometric indicators of visceral obesity were calculated. The severity of HLAP was determined using the revised Atlanta classification. The correlation between the six indicators and HLAP severity was evaluated, and the predictive efficacy of the indicators was assessed using area under the curve (AUC). The differences in diagnostic values of the six indicators were also compared using the DeLong test.

RESULTS

Patients with moderate to severe AP had higher VAI, CMI, and LAP than patients with mild AP (all P < 0.001). The highest AUC in predicting HLAP severity was observed for VAI, with a value of 0.733 and 95% confidence interval of 0.678-0.784.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated significant correlations between HLAP severity and VAI, CMI, and LAP indicators. These indicators, particularly VAI, which displayed the highest predictive power, were instrumental in forecasting and evaluating the severity of HLAP.

Association between novel anthropometric indices and prevalence of kidney stones in US adults

BACKGROUND

Our aim is to evaluate the relationship between prevalence of kidney stones (KS) and novel anthropometric indices (AHIs).

METHODS

Participants who participated in the KS questionnaire was extracted from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2007 to 2018.A series of covariates were also obtained. The novel AHIs include a body shape index (ABSI) and body roundness index (BRI). Weighted multivariable-adjusted logistic regression was performed to investigate the association of KS with AHIs.

RESULTS

After relative covariates were adjusted, a greater risk of KS for each z score increase in ABSI (OR = 1.13, 95%CI 1.05-1.22), and the risk of KS augmented by 19% for every 1 BRI z score added (OR = 1.19, 95%CI 1.11-1.27). The results from subgroup analysis showed that among adults aged 20-39 (OR = 1.31, 95%CI 1.04-1.65), male (OR = 1.14, 95%CI 1.02-1.28), the risk of KS is higher with the increase of each ABSI z score. Raising each BRI z score in those who were male aged 20-39 and 40-59 resulted in a higher risk of KS (aged 20-39: OR = 1.34, 95%CI 1.06-1.69; aged 40-59: OR = 1.29, 95%CI 1.09-1.53). In female aged 40-59, increasing each BRI z score led to a higher risk of KS (OR = 1.23, 95%CI 1.07-1.41). A linear association of ABSI z score with the risk of KS and a non-linear relationship between BRI z score and the risk of KS were discovered.

CONCLUSION

This study found that the novel AHIs was related to the risk of kidney stones, and can be used as important indicators to evaluate the risk of KS.

Relationship between the novel and traditional anthropometric indices and subclinical atherosclerosis evaluated by carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT)

Introduction

Over the last few years, novel anthropometric indices have been developed as an alternative to body mass index (BMI) and other traditional anthropometric measurements to enhance the estimate of fat proportion and its relationship to a future cardiovascular event. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association of carotid intima-media thickness (c-IMT) estimated by Doppler ultrasound with current anthropometric indices (traditional and novel).

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on a total of 789 Spanish patients. Traditional (BMI, WHR, and WHtR) and new (WWI, AVI, ABSI, BRI, BAI, CUN-BAE, and CI) anthropometric indices were determined, and carotid Doppler ultrasound was performed to evaluate c-IMT (≥0.90 mm).

Results

Most of the anthropometric indices analyzed were significantly higher among patients with pathological c-IMT, except for BMI, BAI, and CUN-BAE. In multiple linear regression analysis, c-IMT was positively related to ABSI, AVI, BRI, CI, and WWI but not to CUN-BAE, BAI, or traditional anthropometric indices. Similarly, in univariate analysis, all indices were associated with a c-IMT of ≥0.90 mm (p < 0.05), except BMI, BAI, and CUN-BAE; however, only ABSI (adjusted OR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.08-2.40; p = 0.017), CI (adjusted OR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.15-2.60; p = 0.008), and WWI (adjusted OR: 1.74; 95% CI: 1.14-2.64; p = 0.009) were significantly associated in multivariate analysis. Finally, CI, ABSI, and WWI provided the largest AUC, and BMI and CUN-BAE showed the lowest AUC.

Conclusion

ABSI, CI, and WWI were positively associated with pathological c-IMT (≥0.90 mm), independent of other confounders.

Association of Subclinical Carotid Atherosclerosis Assessed by High-Resolution Ultrasound With Traditional and Novel Anthropometric Indices

Novel anthropometric indices have been proposed as an alternative to body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) to determine visceral adipose tissue and body mass. Little is known about the relationship of these new anthropometric indices to subclinical carotid atherosclerosis. The objective of this study was to assess the association of anthropometric indices, both new and traditional, with the presence of subclinical carotid artery arteriosclerosis (SCAA) estimated by Doppler ultrasound. This cross-sectional study analyzed 788 Spanish patients who consecutively attended a vascular risk consultation between June 2021 and September 2022. Traditional anthropometric indices (BMI, WHR and WHtR) and novel indices (ABSI, AVI, BAI, BRI, CI, CUNBAE and WWI) were calculated, and Doppler ultrasound in the carotid artery (cIMT and atherosclerosis plaque) was performed to detect SCAA. All analyzed anthropometric indices, except BMI, BAI and CUNBAE, were significantly higher in patients with SCAA. ABSI, BRI, CI, WHR, WHtR and WWI and were associated with SCAA in the univariate analysis (p<0.05); however, only ABSI (adjusted OR: 1.15; 95% CI: 1.10-2.38; p= 0.042) was significantly associated with SCAA in the multivariate analysis. In conclusion, only ABSI was significantly positively associated with SCAA, independent of other confounders.

Association between a body shape index and abdominal aortic calcification in general population: A cross-sectional study

Background

The association between a body shape index (ABSI) and abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) is still unclear, so we tried to prove the association between ABSI and AAC in the general population in this cross-sectional study.

Materials and methods

After excluding participants with missing data on height, weight, waist circumference (WC), and AAC, we finally selected 3,140 participants aged 40-80 years from the 2013-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Using multivariate logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to test the association between ABSI and AAC.

Results

Participants (median age: 58.0 years; 48.3% men) were divided into two groups by the optimal cutoff point of ABSI: higher ABSI (> 0.84) and lower ABSI (≤ 0.84). Participants with higher ABSI showed significantly higher proportion of AAC than those with lower ABSI (39.8 vs. 23.7%, P < 0.001). Participants with higher ABSI had an increased risk of developing AAC in crude model (ABSI as a continuous variable: OR = 2.485, 95% CI: 2.099-2.942, P < 0.001; as a categorical variable: OR = 2.132, 95% CI: 1.826-2.489, P < 0.001), and ABSI was still independently associated with AAC in all adjusted models (all P < 0.05). Further subgroup analyses showed that higher ABSI was consistently associated with AAC in subgroups with sex (male or female), age (≤ 65 or > 65 years), smoking history (yes or no), hypertension (yes or no), diabetes (yes or no), sleep disorder (yes or no), body mass index (BMI) (< 23 or ≥ 23 kg/m²), systolic blood pressure (< 140 or ≥ 140 mmHg), diastolic blood pressure (< 90 or ≥ 90 mmHg), fasting plasma glucose (< 126 or ≥ 126 mg/dL), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (≤ 130 or > 130 mg/dL) (P for interaction > 0.05). While in other subgroups, the association was no longer synchronized. The ROC showed that the area under the curve of ABSI was significantly higher than height, weight, BMI, WC, and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR).

Conclusion

Higher ABSI was closely associated with higher risk of AAC, and discriminant ability of ABSI for AAC was significantly higher than height, weight, BMI, WC, and WHtR.

Association of Body Shape Index with Cerebral Small Vessel Disease

INTRODUCTION

A body shape index (ABSI) is an anthropometric index designed to reflect the influence of visceral fat. ABSI has been previously associated with various atherosclerosis, metabolic diseases, and cardiovascular diseases; however, relatively few studies have been conducted on cerebrovascular disease. In this study, we evaluated the association between ABSI and cerebral small vessel disease (cSVD) in health check-up participants.

METHODS

We evaluated consecutive health check-up participants between January 2006 and December 2013. As subtypes of cSVD, we quantitatively measured the volume of white matter hyperintensity (WMH) and qualitatively measured the presence of silent brain infarct (SBI) and cerebral microbleed (CMB). ABSI was calculated according to the following formula: ABSI (m11/6/kg-2/3) = waist circumference (m)/(body mass index [kg/m2]2/3 × height [m]1/2).

RESULTS

A total of 3,219 health check-up participants were assessed (median age, 56 years; male sex, 54.0%). In the multivariable analysis, ABSI was significantly associated with WMH volume (β = 0.107, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.013-0.200), SBI (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.14-2.31), and CMB (aOR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.16-2.33) after adjusting for confounders (per 100 m11/6/kg-2/3). Furthermore, ABSI showed a dose-response relationship with the burden of each cSVD pathology.

CONCLUSIONS

High ABSI was associated with a higher burden of cSVD in health check-up participants. As ABSI showed close associations with all subtypes of cSVD, visceral fat may be a common risk factor penetrating cSVD pathologies.

Combined consideration of body mass index and waist circumference identifies obesity patterns associated with risk of stroke in a Chinese prospective cohort study

Background

In China, few studies have examined the relationship between the combination of body mass index and waist circumference and the risk of stroke. Moreover, the relationship may also be different in different genders. Thus, we investigated the association between the combination of body mass index and waist circumference and the risk of stroke in Chinese.

Methods

This prospective cohort study included 36 632 participants aged 18 to 90 years. Participants were recruited from 60 surveillance sites (25 urban sites and 35 rural sites) across China in 2010 China Chronic Disease Risk Factor Surveillance, and followed up in 2016-2017. Incident cases of stroke were identified through questionnaires (including the basis of clinical diagnosis, imaging tests, time of diagnosis, diagnosis unit) and Cardiovascular Event Report System. Risk factors for stroke were collected at baseline using questionnaire, physical measurements and laboratory tests. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to generate adjusted hazard ratios and 95%CI. All analyses were duplicated by gender stratification.

Results

During 6.42 ± 0.50 years of follow-up, 1 333 (597 males, 736 females) stroke events were observed among the 27 112 participants who did not have cardiovascular diseases at baseline. Compared with the general population who have normal weight or underweight with normal WC, those who have normal weight or underweight with abdominal obesity (adjusted hazard ratios 1.45, 95%CI 1.07-1.97 in males; 0.98, 95%CI 0.78-1.24 in females), overweight with abdominal obesity (1.41, 95%CI 1.14-1.75 in males; 1.33, 95%CI 1.10-1.61 in females), obesity with abdominal obesity (1.46, 95%CI 1.11-1.91 in males; 1.46, 95%CI 1.17-1.81 in females). Overweight with normal WC was found to be not statistically significant for both males and females (all P>0.05). Subgroup analysis found a multiplicative interaction between age and anthropometric group in females (P for interaction <0.05). Sensitivity analysis results did not change. In the subjects with CVD risk factors, we found a similar relationship as in the general population .

Conclusions

Combined assessment of body mass index and waist circumference identifies obesity patterns associated with stroke risk.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-12756-2.