Novel Marker of Inflammation Can Help Determine Link Between Obesity, CVD

When assessing the adverse cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk associated with visceral adipose tissue (VAT), GlycA can be a useful surrogate marker, a new study shows.

The study, authored by Kayla Riggs and colleagues, was presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2018 on Saturday, November 10.

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We assessed the hypothesis that [VAT] associates with GlycA, and this association may partially explain the pathophysiological link between VAT and CVD,” the researchers wrote.

To reach their conclusions, the researchers evaluated the baseline measurements of risk factors, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and VAT of 2352 adults in the Dallas Heart Study.

Associations between VAT and GlycA were assessed against the first or subsequent CVD event over a median of 11.4 years among participants who were obese (BMI of 30 kg/m² or higher).

After adjusting for the traditional risk factors of age, sex, race/ethnicity, smoking, and exercise, VAT, BMI, and waist circumference were all associated with GlycA.

After adjusting for BMI and waist circumference, VAT was still directly associated with GlycA, although in adjusted models for first and recurrent cardiovascular events, this association weakened slightly.

However, when adjusted for high sensitivity C-reactive protein, VAT was still associated with cardiovascular events. And despite adjustment for VAT, GlycA also remained strongly associated with cardiovascular events.

“Direct imaging assessment of VAT is associated with GlycA, a novel marker of inflammation,” the researchers concluded. “The link between VAT and CVD may be partly explained by inflammation reflected by GlycA.”

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

Riggs KA, Rocha NA, Patel KV, et al. GlycA: a novel marker of inflammation and potential link between obesity and cardiovascular disease. Paper presented at: American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2018; November 10-12, 2018; Chicago IL. http://www.abstractsonline.com/pp8/#!/4682/presentation/52674. Accessed November 9, 2018.