Visceral obesity and cardiometabolic risk

Background. Visceral fat tissue - expressed by increased waist circumference - is a key feature of metabolic syndrome (MS). Diagnosis of MS identifies subjects with increased cardiovascular risk. Relation of MS to "classic" risk factors remains under debate. Objectives. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between waist circumference and cardiovascular risk determined by SCORE scale. Material and methods. The study group comprised inhabitants of Poznan who answered preventive action carried out by staff of Family Medicine Outpatient Clinic. Waist circumference, blood pressure measurement were performed as well as selected laboratory parameters. In order to diagnose subjects with visceral obesity waist circumference >= 94 cm in men and >= 80 cm in women was taken. Subsequently individual 10-years' risk of fatal cardiovascular incident (SCORE) was calculated. Results. 81 persons (F/M = 52/29, mean age 60.2 years) took part in preventive action. In 83% subjects visceral obesity was diagnosed on the basis of waist circumference. In 41 people SCORE was shown to be more than 5% (i.e. high risk of cardiovascular incident). Number of persons in whom waist circumference met the criteria of visceral obesity was the same in group of high and low cardiovascular risk. In all subjects statistically significant positive correlation between waist circumference and SCORE was shown (R = 0.3; p < 0.05). Conclusions. Awareness of potential dangers resulting from obesity should determine intensive preventive and therapeutic actions.