Context:
Both excess visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and low cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels are associated with a deteriorated cardiometabolic risk profile.
Objective:
The aim of the study was to examine the respective contributions of changes in VAT accumulation vs. changes in CRF to 6-yr longitudinal changes in cardiometabolic risk markers.
Design, Settings, and Participants:
We conducted a prospective, population-based study with an average follow-up of 5.9 ± 0.8 yr. We followed 132 middle-aged participants from the Quebec Family Study (mean age, 35.3 ± 13.9 yr). VAT was measured by computed tomography, whereas the level of CRF was assessed by a submaximal physical working capacity test at baseline and at follow-up. A complete cardiometabolic risk profile, including systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting glucose and insulin levels, C-reactive protein (n = 72), as well as a standard lipoprotein-lipid profile, was obtained at baseline and at follow-up.
Main Outcome Measures:
We measured changes in CRF, VAT, and cardiometabolic risk profile over 6 yr.
Results:
After adjusting for age and sex, 6-yr changes in VAT were negatively correlated with changes in CRF (r = −0.38; P < 0.001). In a multivariate model that included age, sex, changes in VAT, changes in CRF, as well as baseline levels of the above cardiometabolic risk factors, 6-yr changes in VAT were the most important predictor of the change in the metabolic syndrome score (R2 = 13.2%; P < 0.001). Adding 6-yr changes in CRF levels significantly improved the predictability of the model (R2 = 19.7%; P = 0.002).
Conclusions:
Changes in both VAT and CRF levels observed over 6 yr are associated with changes in parameters of the lipoprotein-lipid profile, glucose-insulin homeostasis, and inflammatory markers. Thus, maintaining a low level of VAT and a high level of CRF are important targets for maintenance of cardiometabolic health.
Study on the risk profile of patients with acute stroke hospitalized in the Second Clinic of Neurology, St. Marina University Hospital