Imaging assessment of visceral adipose tissue area and its correlations with metabolic alterations

Abstract

Background: Androgenic obesity is associated with a higher risk of metabolic disorders, thus favoring the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and other morbidities. Objective: To verify the influence of the visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area, measured by computed tomography (CT), on the metabolic alterations in adult and elderly individuals. Methods: CT results and lipoprotein levels, total cholesterol and fractions, triglycerides, glycemia and uric acid levels, were obtained from 194 individuals stratified by sex, age group and body mass and analyzed using the tests of correlation and means. Results: The elderly individuals presented higher VAT area, glycemia, uric acid and total cholesterol levels. The most important correlations were observed between VAT area, triglycerides (TG) and VLDL-c (r > 0.5; p < 0.01), in both age groups. The mean VAT area was always higher when TG and glycemia levels were altered, in both age groups. Conclusion: Most tests showed a strong correlation with VAT area, which was considered as risk for metabolic alterations. In elderly individuals, the risk VAT area seems to be higher than that of adult individuals. (Arq Bras Cardiol 2010;95(6):698-704)