Visceral Fat Area, Not Subcutaneous Fat Area, is Associated with Cardiac Hemodynamics in Type 2 Diabetes

Background This study was conducted in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to assess the association between visceral fat area (VFA) and cardiac hemodynamics. Methods A total of 568 patients with type 2 diabetes (mean age 54±12 years; 40.8% of women) were enrolled. Visceral fat area (VFA, m2) and subcutaneous fat area (SFA, m2) were evaluated by a bioelectrical impedance analyzer. Cardiac hemodynamics were measured by echocardiography, and other clinical and laboratory variables were also assessed and recorded. Patients were divided into those with VFA ≤ 100 (n=369) and those with VFA > 100 (n=199). Results VFA, SFA, LVMI (left ventricular mass index), left atrial diameter, left ventricular diastolic diameter (LvDd), interventricular septal thickness (IVST), left ventricular systolic diameter (LvSd), and posterior wall thickness (PWT) levels in high-V groups were significantly higher than those in low-V groups. Correlation analysis showed that VFA was positively correlated with LVMI (r=0.120, p=0.004), LVM (r=0.249, p