Evaluation of Abdominal Obesity Using Ultrasound and Its Correlation with Intima Media Thickness in Carotid Arteries

Download PDF

Background: Recognition of contributing factors of atherosclerosis is important to reduce the burden of disease. The purpose in this study was to determine the correlation of abdominal wall fat, visceral fat and preperitoneal fat with Intimal Media Thickness (IMT) in carotid artery. Methods: In this observational cross-sectional comparative study, 258 consecutive patients under carotid ultrasonography were enrolled and the correlation of abdominal wall fat, visceral fat and preperitoneal fat with Intimal Media Thickness of carotid arteries was determined in them. Results: The results in this study demonstrated that age (r=0.427, P=0.0001), BMI (r=0.784, P=0.0001), abdominal wall fat (r=0.566, P=0.0001), visceral fat (r=0.766, P=0.0001), and preperitoneal fat (r=0.547, P=0.0001) had direct significant correlation with Intimal Media Thickness (P < 0.05) of carotid artery. The strongest relationship is seen between visceral fat and intimal medial thickness. Conclusion: Totally, according to the obtained results, it may be concluded that there is significant correlation between abdominal wall fat, visceral fat and preperitoneal fat with Intimal Medial Thickness of carotid artery. The correlation of visceral fat with intimal medial thickness and carotid atherosclerosis is stronger than abdominal wall and preperitoneal fat.