The Correlation between the Ratio of Visceral Fat Area to Subcutaneous Fat Area on Computed Tomography and Lipid Accumulation Product as Indexes of Cardiovascular Risk

J Obes Metab Syndr. 2019 Sep;28(3):186-193. doi: 10.7570/jomes.2019.28.3.186. Epub 2019 Mar 30.

Abstract

Background: Visceral obesity and cardiovascular disease are closely related. Research on relevant indexes of cardiovascular disease is particularly important. One of these indexes is lipid accumulation product (LAP). However, the relationship between LAP and the ratio of visceral fat area to subcutaneous fat area (V/S ratio) remains unclear.

Methods: Individuals who visited the university hospital health promotion center and underwent abdominal computed tomography (CT) were included in the study. We analyzed the V/S ratio obtained using CT with cardiovascular factors and indexes. Standardized coefficients were used to obtain uniform units of all independent variables, and the relationship between LAP and V/S ratio was determined using multiple logistic regression analysis.

Results: A positive correlation between the V/S ratio and LAP was observed even after adjustment for age, smoking history, alcohol drinking history, and exercise (P<0.001). The highest quartile of LAP was independently associated with abdominal obesity (odds ratio [OR], 1.160; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.093-1.232) and visceral fat ≥100 cm2 (OR, 1.018; 95% CI, 1.010-1.026), but not with hypertension or diabetes.

Conclusion: LAP is closely related to the V/S ratio and can be used to predict the condition of visceral fat tissue.

Keywords: Lipid accumulation product; Subcutaneous fat; Visceral fat.