Introduction:
Although visceral fat accumulation is an important risk factor for coronary artery diseases (CAD), the relationship between visceral fat accumulation and its long-term outcomes has not been extensively investigated.
Hypothesis:
In patients with suspected CAD, the distribution of subcutaneous fat and visceral fat is associated with cardiovascular events.
Methods:
Computed tomography (CT) angiographies (CTA) were performed on 945 consecutive patients with suspected CAD. Plain abdominal CT scanning was performed to measure the patients’ visceral fat area (VFA) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA). The VFA/SFA (V/S) ratios were calculated to assess the visceral fat accumulation. Based on the results of the CTA, the prevalence of CAD was assessed. The patients were classified into low (<0.627), and high (≥0.627) V/S ratio groups, based on their median value, and the association between V/S ratio and long-term outcomes was evaluated. The primary endpoints were major cardiac adverse events (MACE), including all-cause death, new-onset acute coronary syndrome (ACS), emergent hospitalization due to cardiovascular disease, and any coronary revascularization.
Results:
The average follow-up period was 845.3 days. The baseline characteristics for patients in the high V/S ratio group were worse than those for patients in the low high V/S ratio group. As compared to the low V/S ratio group, a higher incidence of MACE and ACS, and a higher tendency of mortality was observed in the high V/S ratio group. After adjusting for traditional coronary risk factors, the V/S ratio was independently associated with incidence of MACE, ACS, and increase of mortality (table).
Conclusions:
The present study suggests that the V/S ratio is an independent predictor of long-term outcomes in patients with suspected CAD. The visceral fat accumulation indicated by high V/S ratio signifies a potential risk and may contribute to the future cardiovascular events in patients with suspected CAD.
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