Cardiovascular Fat Volumes Linked to BMI and Race

Racial differences are linked to cardiovascular fat (CF) volumes and their associations with adiposity measures in middle-aged women, according to the results of a recent study. 

In the study, researchers analyzed data from 524 participants involved in the Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation, 62% of whom were white and 38% of whom were black (mean age 50.9 years). Data on CF volume, including epicardial fat (EAT), paracardial fat (PAT), total heart fat, and aortic perivascular fat, visceral fat (VAT), and body mass index (BMI), were assessed.
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After adjusting for age, menopausal status, comorbid conditions, alcohol consumption, and physical activity levels, the researchers found that black women had 19.8% less EAT, 24.5% less PAT, 20.4% less total heart fat, and 13.2% less perivascular fat compared with white women. These differences remained significant after additional adjustments for BMI and VAT.

Race was found to significantly modify the associations between adiposity measures and CF volumes. Every 1 standard deviation (SD) increase in BMI in white women was associated with a 66.7% higher PAT volume compared with a 42.4% higher PAT volume for every 1-SD increase in black women. Conversely, every 1-SD increase in VAT volume in black women was associated with a 32.3% higher EAT volume compared with a 25.3% greater EAT volume for every 1-SD increase in white women.

“Racial differences were found in CF volumes and in their associations with adiposity measures among midlife women,” the researchers concluded. “Future research should determine how race-specific changes in CF volumes impact [coronary heart disease] risk in women.”

—Melissa Weiss

Reference:

Hanley C, Matthews K, Brooks MM, et al. Cardiovascular fat in women at midlife: effects of race, overall adiposity, and central adiposity. The SWAN Cardiovascular Fat Study [published online before print July 31, 2017]. Menopause. doi:10.1097/GME.0000000000000945.