Viscus fat area contributes to the Framingham 10-year general cardiovascular disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE:To explore the correlation of the viscus fat area (VFA) with the Framingham 10-year general cardiovascular disease risk in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). METHODS:A total of 202 patients with T2DM were divided into two groups based on VFA (a VFA ≥ 100 cm2 group and a VFA < 100 cm2 group), or four groups based on sex and age (a middle-aged male group, an elderly male group, a middle-aged female group, and an elderly female group). The correlation between the Framingham 10-year general cardiovascular disease risk and body fat indexes was analyzed. RESULTS:Patients in the VFA ≥ 100 cm2 group had higher body fat indexes and Framingham Risk Scores (FRSs) and lower levels of high density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) when compared to the VFA < 100 cm2 group (P < 0.05). Female patients had higher body fat mass (BFM) and body fat percentage (BFP) levels and a lower VFA when compared to male patients. The VFA was significantly higher in the elderly than in the middle-aged patients. The waist hip fat ratio (WHFR) was significantly higher in elderly females than in elderly males (P < 0.05). Elderly females had the highest FRS of all patients. Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed the VFA as a contributor to the Framingham 10-year general cardiovascular disease risk after statistical correction for other multiple factors affecting cardiovascular disease risk. CONCLUSION:The VFA is an independent factor that contributes to the Framingham 10-year general cardiovascular disease risk in patients with T2DM.