Impact of Visceral Adiposity Measured by Abdominal Computed Tomography on Pulmonary Function

ABSTRACT

Although an inverse relationship between abdominal adiposity and pulmonary function has been suggested, direct measurement of abdominal adipose tissue has rarely been attempted. Our object is to determine the impact of abdominal adiposity on pulmonary function by directly measuring abdominal adipose tissue with abdominal computed tomography (CT). In this cross-sectional study, we included never-smokers between the ages of 18 and 85 yr, who had undergone spirometry and abdominal adipose tissue analysis with CT scans during November 1, 2005 to October 31, 2009 as part of the comprehensive health examination. Among a total of 3,469 participants, 890 (25.7%) were male. The mean body mass index and waist circumference among males and females were 24.6 kg/m2 and 87.8 cm and 23.0 kg/m2 and 83.0 cm, respectively. Although total adipose tissue (TAT) of the abdomen in males (269.1 cm2) was similar to that in females (273.6 cm2), the ratio of visceral adipose tissue (VAT)/subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) was different; 0.99 in males and 0.50 in females. In males, TAT, SAT, and VAT were inversely associated with the absolute value of forced vital capacity (FVC), and TAT and VAT were inversely associated with forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1). However, in females, TAT and VAT, but not SAT, were inversely associated with absolute FVC and FEV1 values. In conclusion, the amount of abdominal adipose tissue directly measured using CT is inversely associated with lung function.