Chinese visceral adiposity index useful marker for cardiometabolic risk in adult GH deficiency

The Chinese visceral adiposity index may be used as a biomarker for cardiometabolic risk among adults with growth hormone deficiency, and can also be used in diagnosing the development of cardiovascular disease, according to researchers in China.

[Adult growth hormone deficiency] has been found to be associated with the development of visceral obesity. According to several epidemiological studies, visceral obesity is the most predictive fact component of CVD and events, and visceral obesity is a central feature of metabolic syndrome,” Wei Ren, PhD, of Chongqing Medical University First Affiliated Hospital, and colleagues wrote. “The lipid accumulation product and visceral adiposity index have been suggested as reliable markers of [insulin resistance] and cardiometabolic risk in the general population.”

Such markers, however, may not apply to Asian patients due to differences in adipose tissue distribution, according to Ren and colleagues.

“Recently, another index called the Chinese visceral adiposity index (CVAI) has shown promise as marker of visceral fat dysfunction,” the researchers wrote.

The researchers categorized 91 patients with adult GH deficiency into four groups according to CVAI quartile. They evaluated possible relationships between patients’ biochemical and clinical features, cardiometabolic risk, lipid accumulation product, visceral adiposity index and CVAI. Another 140 healthy participants, all of whom worked in the department of endocrinology at Chongqing Medical University, served as a control group.

Patients with adult GH deficiency had significantly higher CVAI index scores compared with controls, according to the researchers. An increased CVAI score was significantly correlated with higher waist circumference, waist-hip ratio and BMI, Ren and colleagues wrote. Further, CVAI index score was also associated with higher triglyceride levels, Framingham risk score and atherosclerotic CVD lifetime risk score (P ≤ .001), as well as lower levels of GH and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.

“These results suggest that CVAI may be better than other adiposity indices at identifying cardiometabolic risk in [adult growth hormone deficiency] patients and could be used to diagnose the development of CVD and vascular accidents,” the researchers wrote.” – by Andy Polhamus

Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.