Visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio as a predictor of the multiple metabolic risk factors for subjects with normal waist circumference in Korea

Figures & data

Table 1 Baseline characteristics of study participants according to sex

Variable	Normal range	Men (n=296)	Women (n=239)	P-value
Age (years)		52.1±9.9	50.6±9.7	0.089
BMI (kg/m^2)	<25	24.0±2.2	22.4±2.1	<0.001
WC (cm)	Men <90, women <85	83.1±4.9	76.60±5.2	<0.001
SBP (mmHg)	<130	128.2±11.7	118.0±13.5	<0.001
DBP (mmHg)	<85	81.9±9.0	74.2±9.5	<0.001
Triglyceride (mg/dL)	<150	132.0±108.3	89.8±60.1	<0.001
HDL-cholesterol (mg/dL)	Men ≥40, women ≥50	52.9±13.0	60.3±14.3	<0.001
FBS (mg/dL)	<100	103.8±29.1	93.3±14.4	<0.001
Taking antihypertensive, n (%)		50 (16.8)	19 (7.9)	0.002
Taking OHA, n (%)		25 (8.4)	7 (2.9)	0.007
High BP, n (%)		183 (61.8)	73 (30.5)	<0.001
Hyperglycemia, n (%)		116 (39.1)	49 (20.5)	<0.001
High TG, n (%)		80 (27.0)	21 (8.7)	<0.001
Low HDL-cholesterol, n (%)		36 (12.1)	51 (21.3)	0.004
At least two risk factors other than central obesity, n (%)		128 (43.2)	54 (22.5)	<0.001
Metabolic syndrome, n (%)		41 (13.8)	37 (15.4)	0.595
VFA (cm^2)		133.3±74.5	84.9±43.2	<0.001
SFA (cm^2)		121.0±60.5	157.2±52.6	<0.001
VSR		1.34±3.63	0.54±0.25	<0.001

Notes: Values are presented as mean ± standard deviation or number (%). P-values were calculated using independent t-test for the continuous variables and chi-square test for categorical variables. High BP: blood pressure ≥130/85 mmHg or taking medication for previously diagnosed hypertension; hyperglycemia: fasting blood sugar 100 mg/dL or taking medication for previously diagnosed diabetes; high TG: serum triglycerides ≥150 mg/dL; low HDL-cholesterol: serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol <40 mg/dL in men and <50 mg/dL in women.

Abbreviations: BMI, body mass index; WC, waist circumference; SBP, systolic blood pressure; DBP, diastolic blood pressure; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; FBS, fasting blood sugar; OHA, oral hypoglycemic agent; BP, blood pressure; TG, triglyceride; VFA, visceral fat area; SFA, subcutaneous fat area; VSR, visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio.

Table 2 Comparison of adjusted mean VFA, SFA, and VSR by metabolic risk factors

Variable	Men			Women
	Absent	Present	P-value	Absent	Present	P-value
VFA (cm^2)
High BP	120.5±6.7	130.6±5.7	0.253	89.6±3.1	100.9±4.4	0.044
Hyperglycemia	125.9±5.4	127.5±6.9	0.855	89.9±2.9	105.2±5.4	0.015
High TG	123.1±4.9	136.8±8.4	0.155	92.3±2.6	105.1±8.1	0.131
Low HDL-cholesterol	125.1±4.5	137.7±12.2	0.329	91.0±2.9	101.1±5.2	0.093
At least two risk factors	120.3±5.5	135.7±6.7	0.075	89.3±3.0	104.8±5.1	0.011
Metabolic syndrome	124.5±4.6	141.3±11.6	0.172	90.1±2.9	106.7±6.1	0.020
SFA (cm^2)
High BP	137.0±6.0	133.3±4.5	0.594	189.7±6.0	190.6 ±6.7	0.898
Hyperglycemia	139.0±4.7	127.9±5.6	0.104	192.3±5.6	184.5 ±7.8	0.335
High TG	138.2±4.5	127.1 ±6.3	0.142	191.2±5.3	179.1 ±11.1	0.265
Low HDL-cholesterol	135.3±4.1	130.4±9.4	0.631	193.7±5.7	182.2±7.4	0.135
At least two risk factors	140.6±5.0	128.2±5.1	0.067	194.4±5.9	182.3±7.2	0.121
Metabolic syndrome	136.3±4.2	126.4±8.8	0.306	192.5±5.8	184.5±8.2	0.380
VSR
High BP	1.05±0.04	1.18±0.03	0.018	0.53±0.01	0.62±0.02	0.010
Hyperglycemia	1.07±0.03	1.21±0.04	0.008	0.53±0.01	0.67±0.03	0.001
High TG	1.06±0.03	1.31±0.05	<0.001	0.55±0.01	0.72±0.04	0.001
Low HDL-cholesterol	1.11±0.02	1.22±0.07	0.181	0.50±0.01	0.70±0.03	<0.001
At least two risk factors	1.02±0.03	1.29±0.04	<0.001	0.52±0.01	0.69±0.03	<0.001
Metabolic syndrome	1.09±0.02	1.35±0.07	0.001	0.53±0.01	0.69±0.03	<0.001

Notes: Values are presented as mean ± standard error and are adjusted for age and BMI. P-value was calculated using independent t-test.

Abbreviations: VFA, visceral fat area; SFA, subcutaneous fat area; VSR, visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio; BP, blood pressure; TG, triglyceride; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; BMI, body mass index.

Figure 1 ROC curves for VSR, VFA, and SFA to identify at least two components of metabolic syndrome other than waist circumference in normal waist-circumference (A) men and (B) women.

Abbreviations: ROC, receiver operating characteristic; VSR, visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio; VFA, visceral fat area; SFA, subcutaneous fat area; AUC, area under curve.