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Increased Visceral Adipose Tissue Is Associated With Increased Resting Heart Rate in Patients With Manifest Vascular Disease
Author(s) -
Bemelmans Remy H.H.,
Graaf Yolanda,
Nathoe Hendrik M.,
Wassink Annemarie M.J.,
Vernooij Joris W.P.,
Spiering Wilko,
Visseren Frank L.J.
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
obesity
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.438
H-Index - 199
eISSN - 1930-739X
pISSN - 1930-7381
DOI - 10.1038/oby.2011.321
Subject(s) - medicine , confounding , quartile , adipose tissue , cardiology , confidence interval , waist , endocrinology , leptin , obesity
Abdominal obesity is characterized by sympathetic nerve activation (SNA), probably mediated by elevated insulin and leptin levels. Resting heart rate (RHR) is a marker of sympathetic tone, and independently associated with cardiovascular events and death in various populations. We investigated and quantified the relation between visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and RHR in patients with vascular disease. In 3,723 patients with manifest vascular disease, visceral and subcutaneous fat tissue was measured with ultrasonography. RHR was obtained from an electrocardiogram (ECG). The association between quartiles of VAT and RHR was quantified using linear regression analysis with adjustments for potential confounding factors. Separate analyses were performed for men and women and for location of vascular disease. Visceral fat was categorized into sex‐pooled quartiles (Q) ranging from 2.7–8.0 cm in Q1 (reference) to 9.4–20.6 cm in Q4. High visceral fat thickness was associated with increased RHR, in men (Q4 vs. Q1, β = 4.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 3.11–5.61) and women (β = 1.48; 95% CI = −0.70 to 3.66), after full adjustment. Waist circumference and BMI had a significant relation with RHR in men (β = 3.51; 95% CI = 2.21–4.81 and β = 2.80; 95% CI = 1.51–4.08, respectively) but these relations were smaller and not significant in women (β = 0.71; 95% CI = −1.44 to 2.85 and β = 0.24; 95% CI = −1.90 to 2.37, respectively). There was no relation between subcutaneous fat and RHR in men and women. The relation between visceral fat and RHR was similar in patients with different locations of vascular diseases. Increased visceral fat is associated with increased RHR in male and female patients with vascular disease, independent of the location.