Application of Visceral Adiposity Index and Anthropometry to Identify Preclinical Atherosclerosis in Menopausal Status Women.

Background: Obesity is associated with a major prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and high risk of cardiovascular events and contributes to the increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Abdominal obesity is a main predictive factor of the metabolic syndrome, so it is certain that it represents a preferable marker of cardiovascular risk than generalized obesity. Visceral adiposity index (VAI) has recently been suggested to be used as a surrogate of visceral adiposity. Objective: We compared the predictive abilities of the VAI with those of simple anthropometric measures in preclinical atherosclerosis, as assessed by ultrasonographic measurement of carotid intima media thickness (CIMT). Material and Method: This is observational cross-sectional study involving 130 menopausal status women voluntarily recruited from Suranaree University of Technology Hospital, Thailand. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-hip ratio (WHR), waist-height ratio (WHtR) and lipid profile were determined. VAI was calculated. CIMT was assessed using a high-resolution B mode ultrasound system. Results: Total 114/130 menopausal status participants, 16 participants were excluded from morbid obesity and high triglyceride >400 mg/dL. About 22.3% had preclinical atherosclerosis on carotid ultrasound. Positive correlation was found between CIMT and WC (r = 0.20, p = 0.04), and WHR (r = 0.25, <0.01) and WHtR (r = 0.24, p = 0.01). However, there was no correlation between VAI and CIMT. Conclusion: Using VAI instead of simple anthropometric measures may lead to loss of much information needed for predicting preclinical atherosclerosis. WC, WHR, and WHtR were both superior to VAI in predicting CIMT.

Clinical Usefulness of Lipid Ratios to Identify Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Perimenopausal/Menopausal Women.

Background: Evidence shows that lipid ratios perform better than individual lipids in predicting cardiovascular risk. The lipid ratio serves as a quick and simple tool for identifying subclinical atherosclerosis. The population at risk especially perimenopausal and menopausal women should be monitoring to prevent cardiovascular disease in the future. Objective: To examine the association between lipid ratios and subclinical atherosclerosis by carotid intima media thickness (CIMT) in perimenopausal/menopausal women. Material and Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 130 participants aged 40 to 80 years between February 2015 and January 2016 in Suranaree University of Technology Hospital, Thailand. CIMTs were assessed using a highresolution B mode ultrasound system. Traditional anthropometry, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and parameters including blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, lipid profile [Total cholesterol (TC), Triglyceride (TG), Highdensity lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)], and CIMT were assessed in all subjects. All lipid ratios were calculated. Results: One hundred thirty perimenopausal/menopausal participants were included in this study. Of those participants, 41% were central obese phenotype and 22% had abnormal CIMT that can identify atherosclerosis. Age and systolic blood pressure in atherosclerosis group were higher than normal CIMT group; <0.01 and <0.01, respectively. Lipid ratio in normal CIMT was higher than atherosclerotic group but not statistically significance except TG/HDL-C (p = 0.03). All lipid ratios and single lipid parameters lacked prediction for the presence of early atherosclerosis. Conclusion: All of lipid ratios, TC/HDL-C, TG/HDL-C, and LDL-C/HDL-C were not identified as early subclinical atherosclerosis among perimenopausal/menopausal women.