Abdominal obesity associated with coronary artery calcification in young adults

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a predictor of coronary morbidity and mortality in symptomatic or asymptomatic subjects. Risk factors for CAC are overlapping with conventional risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). To investigate the relations of waist girth and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), which represent other risk factors for CVD, to subsequent coronary artery calcification (CAC), 2951 African American and white young adults from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults Study were included in this trial. Waist girth and WHR were assessed at baseline and at follow-up whereas CAC was measured by computed tomography after 15 years of follow-up. After adjusting for multiple variables, baseline waist girth and WHR were directly associated with a higher prevalence of CAC after 15 years of follow-up (P for trend <0.001 for both parameters). The odds ratios for CAC in the highest versus lowest tertiles of waist girth and WHR were 1.9 and 1.7, respectively. Based on these results, the authors conclude that abdominal obesity as measured by waist girth and WHR is associated with early atherosclerosis, as reflected by CAC, in African American and white young adults.

Abstract

Keywords:
Abdominal obesity – Atherosclerosis – Blood pressure – Coronary artery disease – Diabetes – Exercise – Smoking – Visceral fat – Waist girth – Waist-to-hip ratio