Visceral Adiposity Index and Cancer Risk
Author Information
Author(s): Solange Parra‐Soto, Boonpor Jirapitcha, Nathan Lynskey, Carolina Araya, Frederick Ho, Jill P. Pell, Carlos Celis‐Morales
Primary Institution: University of Glasgow
Hypothesis
The study aimed to investigate associations between the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and cancer risk at 23 sites.
Conclusion
The visceral adiposity index is associated with six cancer sites and all-cause cancer.
Supporting Evidence
- Individuals in the highest tertile of VAI had a higher risk of uterine cancer (HR, 2.09).
- Those in the highest tertile also had increased risks for gallbladder (HR, 1.83) and kidney cancers (HR, 1.39).
- The study included a large cohort of 385,477 participants from the UK Biobank.
- The median follow-up period was 8.2 years.
Takeaway
This study found that people with higher levels of visceral fat, measured by the visceral adiposity index, are more likely to develop certain types of cancer.
Methodology
The study used Cox proportional hazard models to analyze data from the UK Biobank, adjusting for various sociodemographic and lifestyle factors.
Potential Biases
Residual confounding is possible despite comprehensive adjustments.
Limitations
The UK Biobank sample may not be representative of the general population, and there is a potential for reverse causation.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 53.3% women with a mean age of 56.3 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001 for several cancer associations
Confidence Interval
95% CI for uterine cancer HR: 1.76–2.49
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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