INTRAABDOMINAL ADIPOSE-TISSUE CUT-POINTS RELATED TO ELEVATED CARDIOVASCULAR RISK IN WOMEN

Intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAF) seems to be the primary fat depot putting individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The pur pose of this study was to determine IAF cut-points for identifying CVD risk in pre- and post-menopausal women, Age ranged from 18 to 77 y an d percentage fat ranged from 9 to 48%, Computed tomography (CT). IAF, DEXA determined regional fat and blood lipid profiles were obtained on 220 Caucasian women. Student's t-tests were run to determine differen ces between pre- and post-menopausal women. Receiver-operating charact eristic (ROC) analysis was used to develop IAF cut-points associated w ith elevated CVD risk. Post-menopausal women had higher percentage fat , greater proportion IAF and higher CVD risk. Menopausal status was no t consistently independently related to CVD risk after adjusting for I AF, but IAF was after adjusting for menopausal status. The same cut-po ints for CVD risk were found with both 4- and 6-CVD risk factor analys is and for both pre- and post-menopausal as well as pooled data. 4-CVD risk factor analysis comprised cholesterol (C), HDL-C, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure. 6-CVD risk factor analysis com prised the 4-CVD risk factors plus triglycerides and cholesterol: HDL- C ratio. ROC L positive values indicate levels of IAF above which meta bolic disturbances will be increased and were determined to be 110 cm( 2). ROC L negative values indicate levels of IAF below which CVD risk will not be affected and were determined to be 40 cm(2). False positiv es were 3% and false negatives were 9%. ANOVA comparing women with IAF cross-sections less than 40 cm(2), between 40 and 110 cm(2) and more than 110 cm(2) demonstrate large differences in CVD risk profile. It i s suggested women who have IAF values above 110 cm(2) are in jeopardy of possessing elevated CVD risk.