Protein-Predicted Obesity Phenotypes and Cardiovascular Events: A Secondary Analysis of UK Biobank Proteomics Data
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: ABSTRACT Background Obesity is a modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Proteomic profiling may improve the understanding of obesity and cardiovascular risk prediction. This study explores the use of protein-predicted scores for body mass index (PPS BMI ), body fat percentage (PPS BFP ), and waist-hip ratio (PPS WHR ) in predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Methods We used data from the UK Biobank with proteome profiling. PPS BMI , PPS BFP , and PPS WHR were derived using LASSO algorithm. The association between these protein scores and incident MACE was evaluated using competing risk model. MACE prediction using the protein scores was compared with the PREVENT equation. Results Strong correlations were observed between protein-predicted obesity phenotypes and their measured counterparts (R 2 : BMI = 0.78, BFP = 0.85, WHR = 0.63). Per standard deviation of elevated PPS BFP and PPS WHR , but not PPS BMI , was associated with increased risk of MACE (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.25, 95% CI 1.14 - 1.38; HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.06 - 1.24, respectively), independent of traditional risk factors and outperformed the measured obesity-related phenotypes. For predicting MACE, compared with the PREVENT equation (C-statistic 0.694), the models adjusted for only age, sex, current smoking, and protein scores of obesity showed comparable performance (C-statistics 0.685 - 0.688). Conclusion Protein-predicted scores are better predictors of MACE than measured obesity phenotypes. Integration of protein-predicted scores provides a biologically relevant risk assessment using a single biochemical assay to potentially simplify and standardize the measure of obesity risk in clinical practice.
Source: Proteomes
Language: English
Subfield: Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,172
OpenAlex ID: W4414989311