Association Between Abdominal Body Composition, Inflammation, and Risk for Cardiovascular Disease (The MESA ABD Study) (MESA ABD)

Abdominal Body Composition, Inflammation, and Cardiovascular Disease

Obesity is a growing public health concern, with approximately 31% of Americans considered obese. The link between abdominal obesity and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been well established, but the effect of distinct types of abdominal fat tissue on CVD risk is not well known. The rate of obesity and the distribution of abdominal fat differ with age, sex, and ethnicity. These differences may have important implications for determining ethnic-specific relationships between abdominal body composition (ABC), inflammation, and CVD events. This study will evaluate the association between measures of abdominal fat, CVD risk, and inflammation in terms of ethnicity-, sex-, and age-specific differences.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Cardiovascular Diseases; Obesity

Detailed Description

Abdominal obesity is a serious condition and increases the risk for potentially life-threatening cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Abdominal fat is made up of structurally and functionally different tissues, which include visceral fat, subcutaneous fat, and intramuscular fat. The distribution and levels of these fat tissues are highly variable among obese people, and the effects of ABC differences on cardiovascular health are not well known. Notably, the standard measure of body mass index cannot distinguish between different kinds or ratios of tissue types that make up body weight and, therefore, may not be the best measurement tool. Determining the specific measures of these tissue types by computed tomography (CT) may provide better insight into the varied CVD risk seen among different ethnicities, sexes, and ages. This study will evaluate the association between volumetric measures of ABC, CVD risk, and inflammation in terms of ethnicity-, sex-, and age-specific variables.

This substudy will use data and specimens, including blood samples and CT scans, from participants in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) for abdominal aortic calcium (AAC). Stored blood samples will be used to perform assays for several measures of inflammation and to generate new data on biomarkers and subclinical CVD measures. The existing CT scans will be used to calculate five discrete volumetric measures of ABC, which will include subcutaneous fat, visceral fat, intramuscular fat, the visceral fat to visceral cavity ratio, and the lean muscle to visceral fat ratio. There will be no study visits for this study.

The study completion date listed in this record was obtained from the "Completed Date" entered in the Query View Report System (QVR).

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 1975

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • La Jolla, California, United States, 92093
      • University of California San Diego

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 45 years to 84 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

This study will use data and specimens from participants in the MESA study for AAC who have undergone CT scans of the abdomen.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participant in the MESA study

Exclusion Criteria:

• History of cardiovascualar disease

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
1; Participants from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) for abdominal aortic calcium (AAC) who have undergone computed tomography (CT) scans of the abdomen

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Relationship between abdominal tissue types, levels of inflammatory markers and adipokines, and CVD events	Measured at completion of sample analysis

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
How differences in age, sex, and ethnicity influence the association between ABC and CVD risk	Measured at completion of sample analysis

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Matthew A. Allison, MD, MPH, University of California, San Diego

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: September 1, 2007
• Primary Completion (Actual): August 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 7, 2008
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 7, 2008
• First Posted (Estimate): February 11, 2008

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): July 29, 2016
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 28, 2016
• Last Verified: February 1, 2009

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Atherosclerosis; Body Composition; Abdomen
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Cardiovascular Diseases; Inflammation
• Other Study ID Numbers: 1419; R01HL088451 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)