Evaluation of visceral adiposity index with cardiovascular risk factors, biomarkers in postmenopausal women to predict cardiovascular disease: A 10 year study

Abstract

Background and aim: Visceral adiposity index (VAI) is reportedly beneficial in predicting cardiovascular disease (CVD) and metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, long-term studies analyzing the efficacy of VAI in the pre-diction of CVD risk are limited. The relationship between VAI and electrolytes is unclear. This study aimed to determine if VAI can be used as a predictor of CVD and provide early diagnosis possibility for future CVD pa-tients. Moreover, the impact of biomarkers and electrolytes on VAI therefore indirect relation to CVD was analyzed.Methods: Postmenopausal women (aged >40 years) admitted to our hospital in 2011 were included and cate-gorized into two groups according to their VAI scores: mild/moderate and severe. Groups were compared with insulin resistance, biochemical parameters, and anthropometric measurements. Patients have been reached out after 10 years and questioned for additional disease and cardiovascular risk. Statistical Package for Social Sci-ences (SPSSv22.0) was used for data analysis. The p < 0.05 value was considered significant.Results: Mean VAI score of patients with MetS (7.30 +/- 4.75) was significantly higher than without MetS (2.95 +/- 1.05) (p < 0.01). Serum magnesium level was found significantly lower in the severe group. Serum zinc (Zn) and hsCRP levels were higher in the severe group. Correlation analysis showed significant positive correlations be-tween VAI scores and total cholesterol (r = 0.289, p < 0.05), Zn (r = 0.397, p < 0.01), fasting insulin (r = 0.455, p < 0.01) and no significant association with the 10-year CVD incidence (OR: 1.034 (0.888-1.203); p = 0.668).Conclusion: Previous VAI results cannot assist in predicting the 10-year CVD risk. Additionally, including mea-surements of serum Zn, total cholesterol, fasting insulin, and FBG levels are reasonable approach for managing postmenopausal women with unfavorable CVD risk profiles.