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Open Access 20-11-2023 | Obesity | Research Article

Body Fat Distribution, Fat-Free Mass and Cardiovascular Function in the UK Biobank

Authors: Ayodipupo S. Oguntade, Ben Lacey, Hannah Taylor, Sarah Lewington

Published in: Artery Research

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Abstract

Background

We evaluated the independent associations of body composition measures on left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and pulse wave arterial stiffness index (PWASI).

Methods

The present analysis included 23,258 individuals (mean age 63 years, 53% women) who participated in the whole body imaging sub-study of the UK Biobank. Associations of body composition measures with each of LVEF and PWASI, after mutual adjustment for one another and potential confounders, were determined using multivariable linear regression.

Results

Among regional body fat measures, higher visceral fat (VAT) was associated with lower LVEF (β = − 0.45; 95% CI − 0.60, − 0.31 per SD) and higher PWASI (β = 0.51; 95% CI 0.38–0.65 per SD). The association between VAT and LVEF was negatively linear but positively linear for PWASI throughout the range of VAT measured. Other regional fat measures and fat-free mass were not significantly associated with either LVEF or PWASI. Central adiposity measures (waist circumference [WC] and waist–hip ratio [WHR]) showed significant inverse association with LVEF (WC: β = − 0.11; 95% CI − 0.21, − 0.01 per SD; WHR β = − 0.25; 95% CI − 0.38, − 0.12 per SD) but positive association with PWASI (WC: β = 0.37; 95% CI 0.28–0.47 per SD; WHR β = 0.39; 95% CI 0.27 − 0.51 per SD) while BMI was not significantly associated with LVEF (β = 0.05; 95% CI − 0.04, 0.14 per SD) but showed weaker positive association with PWASI (β = 0.27; 95% CI 0.18–0.35 per SD).

Conclusions

Excess visceral fat and central adiposity are associated with impaired LV function and increased arterial stiffness which may predispose to heart failure.
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Metadata
Title
Body Fat Distribution, Fat-Free Mass and Cardiovascular Function in the UK Biobank
Authors
Ayodipupo S. Oguntade
Ben Lacey
Hannah Taylor
Sarah Lewington
Publication date
20-11-2023
Publisher
Springer Netherlands
Keywords
Obesity
Obesity
Published in
Artery Research
Electronic ISSN: 1876-4401
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s44200-023-00039-z
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