Fat distribution in abdominal obesity and its relationship to metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease

AIM To describe the characteristics of fat distribution in obesity and to explore its relationship to the occurrence and severity of metabolic disorder and coronary artery diseases. METHODS Fifty-seven patients (43 males and 14 females) with definite abdominal obesity, mean age of 52.44±11.47 yeas were included in this study. Fat accumulation in heart, aorta and abdominal viscera were quantified by 64-slice computer tomography. Peri-renal fat accumulation was measured by ultrasound. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic risk factors were also examined. RESULTS VAT, peri-renal fat and Gessini score were significantly larger in patients with metabolic syndrome (MS) than those without ［(2290±601) cc versus.(3024±792) cc; (13.4±1.1) mm2 vs.(18.8±2.2) mm2; (20±3) vs.(46±6); P<0.05, P<0.01］. VAT was significantly associated with the pressence of MS by multivariate logistic regression (OR=1.002, 95%CI 1.000-1.003, P<0.05). WHR, number of MS components, diabetes mellitus, CYS-C, EAT and pericoronary adipose tissue in Gessini score>80 group were significantly higher than those in Gessini score 40~80 group and Gessini score<40 group ［(1.10±0.01) vs.(0.96±0.01), (0.96±0.01)；(4.38±0.38) vs.(3.35±0.27), (2.71±0.27); 71% vs. 17%, 6%; (1.33±0.21) mg/L vs.(1.03±0.07 ) mg/L, (0.86±0.04) mg/L; (217±58) cc vs.(201±18) cc, (129±18) cc; (17.0±1.2) mm vs.(14.3±0.6) mm, (10.4±0.6) mm; P<0.05, P<0.01］. Multivariate stepwise regression analysis showed a significant relationship between Gessini score and MS, pericoronary adipose tissue thickness and cystatin. CONCLUSION Varying locations of body fat distribution play different roles in obesity-related metabolic cardiovascular disease in abdominal obesity.