Visceral Fat Thickness and Abdominal Girth as an Independent Determinant of Metabolic Syndrome: A Cross Sectional, Single-Centre Study
Year: 2024
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a health condition marked by abdominal obesity, insulin resistance, elevated blood pressure, and dyslipidaemia, with various diagnostic criteria proposed by international organizations.MetS affects 25% of adults globally and around 30% in India, with significant risk factors including age, physical inactivity, diet, and tobacco use.Visceral Ft Thickness (VFT) is a crucial indicator of MetS, with ultrasonography (USG) being a reliable, cost-effective tool for its assessment, offering potential for early MetS detection and management. Methods and material:The cross-sectional study, conducted from January 2023 to January 2024 at a Mumbai tertiary care centre, included 223 participants aged 18-65 years.Participants underwent clinical exams, including medical history, fasting/postprandial blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure, BMI, and abdominal circumference.VFT was measured with USG technique.Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed per International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria.Data were summarized using descriptive statistics, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered significant.Results: Statistically significant positive correlations were found between BMI (P = 0.028), postprandial blood sugar (P = 0.057), abdominal girth (P = 0.024), and metabolic syndrome.Abdominal girth significantly correlated with diabetes (P = 0.003) and hypertension (P = 0.028).Hypertension was strongly correlated with visceral fat thickness (P < 0.0001).BMI, abdominal girth, and visceral fat significantly correlated with metabolic syndrome (P < 0.0001). Conclusion:This study reaffirms the significant role of VFT and abdominal obesity as risk factors for MetS.The findings emphasize the importance of monitoring abdominal obesity and VFT as key indicators of metabolic health risks.
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4402283086