# Clinical Usefulness and Cut-Off Value of Computed Tomography-Measured Visceral Adipose Tissue in Coronary Artery Disease

## TL;DR

This study shows that measuring visceral fat via CT scans can help identify coronary artery disease risk in Taiwanese adults.

## Contribution

The study identifies a specific visceral adipose tissue cut-off value for coronary artery disease in the Taiwanese population.

## Key findings

- VAT measured via single-slice CT correlates with significant coronary artery stenosis.
- A lower VAT cut-off is recommended for coronary risk assessment in Taiwanese adults.
- Systolic blood pressure is another significant correlate of coronary artery stenosis.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Abdominal obesity, especially visceral adipose tissue (VAT), is an independent risk factor for coronary artery disease. This study aimed to investigate the association between single-slice CT-measured VAT and significant coronary artery stenosis and to establish an optimal VAT cut-off value for Taiwanese adults. Methods: Patients who underwent abdominal CT and coronary CT angiography (CTA) within 1 month of each other were enrolled in this retrospective study. Axial images of abdominal CT at the L4 pedicle level were selected for further VAT, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and paraspinal muscles analysis. Significant coronary artery stenosis was defined as any luminal stenosis of >50% of the diameter of the vessel that was measured in coronary CTA. Anthropometric and laboratory measurements, including height, weight, waist circumference (WC), blood pressure, blood glucose, and blood lipids, were also analyzed. Results: A total of 779 patients (300 females; 54.9 ± 9.96 years) were enrolled. Only VAT and systolic blood pressure correlated significantly with significant coronary artery stenosis. No significant differences were found in other demographic and anthropometric characteristics between the groups with and without significant coronary artery stenosis. Conclusions: Single-slice CT-measured VAT was associated with significant coronary artery stenosis, and a lower VAT cut-off is recommended for the Taiwanese population.