Correlation between body fat distribution measured by quantitative CT and blood lipids in overweight and obese individuals undergoing physical examinations / 中华健康管理学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To analyze the correlation between quantified body fat distribution measured by computed tomography (CT) and blood lipids in overweight and obese individuals undergoing physical examinations.Methods:In this retrospective cohort study, a total of 3 463 physical examination subjects who underwent chest CT combined with quantified CT examination in the Department of Health Management at Henan Provincial People′s Hospital from January to December 2021 were selected using a comprehensive sampling method. The subjects were divided into three groups: normal group (1, 424 cases), overweight group (1, 531 cases), and obese group (508 cases) based on their body mass index: 18.5 to <24.0 kg/m 2, 24.0 to <28.0 kg/m 2, and≥28.0 kg/m 2, respectively. General information, blood lipid parameters, and different body fat distributions measured by quantified CT (subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, total abdominal fat area, liver fat content, muscle fat content) were collected in the three groups. One-way analysis of variance was used to compare differences in body fat distribution and blood lipid parameters, and Pearson correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the correlation between body fat distribution and blood lipids. Results:In the obese group, compared to the normal and overweight groups, subcutaneous fat area, visceral fat area, total abdominal fat area, liver fat content, muscle fat content, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and triglyceride levels were significantly higher [males: (152.80±49.27) vs (72.94±22.68), (103.79±28.30) cm 2; (287.95±57.55) vs (156.36±49.40), (224.67±53.10) cm 2; (440.75±72.44) vs (229.31±62.01), (328.46±62.77) cm 2; (12.92±8.61)% vs (6.82±3.31)%, (9.39±4.88)%; (9.06±9.34)% vs (4.55±5.06)%, (6.70±6.73)%; (6.52±0.94) vs (4.87±1.03), (6.27±0.96) mmol/L; (3.05±0.76) vs (2.92±0.86), (2.97±0.77) mmol/L; (2.34±1.42) vs (1.53±0.82), (1.99±1.28) mmol/L; females: (213.82±46.87) vs (104.69±30.62), (155.05±34.90) cm 2; (184.88±46.54) vs (90.67±34.09), (138.92±42.06) cm 2; (398.71±71.28) vs (195.37±55.32), (293.97±57.05) cm 2; (11.36±6.34)% vs (5.51±3.02)%, (7.98±4.77)%; (7.44±7.60)% vs (3.70±3.90)%, (5.56±5.94)%; (5.27±0.96) vs (5.04±0.86), (5.11±0.96) mmol/L; (3.26±0.84) vs (2.92±0.79), (3.01±0.74) mmol/L; (1.74±0.69) vs (1.27±0.65), (1.57±0.77) mmol/L], while high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) was significantly lower [males: (1.17±0.19) vs (1.38±0.28), (1.25±0.25) mmol/L; females: (1.36±0.22) vs (1.59±0.32), (1.42±0.27) mmol/L] (all P<0.001). In males, the visceral fat area and total abdominal fat area in the overweight group were positively correlated with triglycerides ( r=0.175, 0.113) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.125, -0.113), while liver fat content was positively correlated with total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides ( r=0.083, 0.075, 0.206) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.093) (all P<0.05). In the obese group, the liver fat content was positively correlated with triglycerides ( r=0.170) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.166) in males (both P<0.05). In females, the visceral fat area and total abdominal fat area in the overweight group were positively correlated with total cholesterol, LDL-C, and triglycerides (visceral fat area: r=0.129, 0.160, 0.348; total abdominal fat area: r=0.121, 0.130, 0.283) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.264, -0.173), while liver fat content was positively correlated with triglycerides ( r=0.352) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.195) (all P<0.05). In the obese group, the visceral fat area was positively correlated with triglycerides ( r=0.213) and negatively correlated with HDL-C ( r=-0.223) in females (both P<0.05). Conclusion:Blood lipids are correlated with body fat distribution in overweight and obese individuals undergoing physical examinations, and the degree of correlation varies between different genders and body regions, with triglycerides showing the strongest correlation with liver fat content.