Objective: To investigate the relationship between the visceral adipose (VA) accumulation and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in patients with MS, and hypertension and/or diabetes.
Methods: VA area was measured by computed tomography (CT) in 564 patients with with MS, and hypertension and/or diabetes, 308 males and 256 females. Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used as index for analysis.
Results: (1) The VA of the patients with MS was 116 cm(2) +/- 38 cm(2), significantly higher than those of the patients with hypertension and diabetes (72 cm(2) +/- 34 cm(2) and 64 cm(2) +/- 34 cm(2) respectively, both P < 0.01). ROC curve analysis showed that the optimal cut-off points of VA for hypertriglyceridemia, hypo-high density lipoproteinemia, abdominal obesity and MS was 91 - 107 cm(2) for men; and 70 - 72 cm(2) for women. (2) The anthropometric parameters to the corresponding optimal cut-off points of VA were as follow: BMI, WC, and WHP were 25 kg/m(2), 89 cm, and 0.95 - 0.96 for men; and 24 - 25 kg/m(2), 82 - 84 cm, and 0.91 for women. Both the cut-off points of VA in assessing hyperglycemia and in assessing hypertension could not be found out. (3) The prevalence of MS was significantly increased when VA >or= 55 cm(2) in women and when VA >or= 70 cm(2) in men respectively.
Conclusion: There is a gender difference in the accumulation of the VA tissue. Even in the subjects with overweight, abdominal obesity and dyesmetabolism have appeared in patients. The prevalence of MS is significantly increased with the intra-abdominal fat accumulation.