Associations of cardiovascular fat radiodensity and vascular calcification in midlife women: The SWAN cardiovascular fat ancillary study.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Fat radiodensity, measured via CT Hounsfield units (HU), is a potential marker of fat quality. We sought to determine the cross-sectional associations of total heart fat (TAT) and aortic perivascular fat (PVAT) radiodensity with cardiovascular risk factors, coronary artery calcification (CAC), and aortic calcification (AC) in midlife women.

Methods

Fat radiodensity, CAC, and AC were quantified using CT scans. A total of 528 women (mean age: 50.9 ± 2.9 years; 37% Black) were included in analyses.

Results

Women in the lowest TAT radiodensity tertile were more likely to have adverse cardiovascular risk factors. Independent of cardiovascular risk factors, women in the middle and high TAT radiodensity tertiles were less likely to have CAC (OR (95% CI):

SUBMITTER: Hanley C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6295258 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature