Abstract 17294: Dynamic Change Patterns of Visceral Adiposity Index and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Chinese Nationwide Cohort Study

Introduction: Visceral adiposity index (VAI), as a reliable marker for visceral adiposity accumulation and dysfunction, is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, the influence of VAI transition on CVD has never been revealed.

Hypothesis: Different VAI dynamic change patterns have different impacts on the risk of CVD.

Methods: There were 5,395 participants aged equal or more than 45 years recruited in 2011 and followed up until 2018, with VAI information and free of a diagnosis of CVD at baseline. New-onset CVD including heart disease and stroke was defined by medical diagnosis. A receiver-operating characteristic curve was employed to divide individuals into high and low VAI categories. Participants were divided into four groups based on VAI change patterns during follow-up period (2011—2015): low-low group, low-high group, high-low group, and high-high group. The probabilities of CVD-free survival were estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the association between different change patterns of VAI and CVD.

Results: During a median follow-up period of 7 years, 969 participants (17.9%) developed CVD. The high-high group (hazard ratio (HR): 1.65, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.39—1.97) and the low-high group (HR: 1.29, 95% CI:1.04—1.61) were associated with a higher risk of CVD after adjusting for demographic characteristics and traditional risk factors compared to the low-low group, while the effect in high-low group was not significant.

Conclusions: Changes in VAI were significantly associated with CVD risk. Monitoring the dynamics of the VAI in public health practice would help prevent CVD.