Objective: To investigate the association of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-measured body fat percentage (BF%) and trunk fat mass index (TFMI) with hypertension (HTN), dyslipidemia, and myocardial infarction (MI).
Methods: The relationship between body fat parameters and cardiovascular disease (CVD) was studied across individuals in the same body mass index (BMI) group. Data from the UK Biobank, a multicountry large population-based study, and the US and Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, generating nationally representative samples, were pooled and harmonized. This cross-sectional analysis included 30,520 women and 27,244 men aged 40 years or older.
Results: A significant increase in relative risks (RRs) of HTN across BF% quintiles was seen in men with normal weight, overweight, and obesity (P≤.01) and in normal weight women (P<.001). The RRs of dyslipidemia for normal weight and overweight men and women significantly increased across BF% quintiles (P≤.002). The RRs of MI did not exhibit a trend across BF% quintiles for participants within various BMI categories. The RRs of HTN and dyslipidemia significantly increased across TFMI quintiles for men and women with normal weight, overweight, and obesity (P≤.007). In men with normal weight, overweight, and obesity, the RRs of MI significantly increased across TFMI quintiles (P≤.03). However, no trend was displayed in the RRs of MI for women in any BMI group.
Conclusion: This analysis revealed a positive association of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry-measured body fat parameters with CVDs for individuals in a specific BMI group. The findings highlight a need for policy changes to include directly measured body fatness in assessing CVD risk.
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