In this study, the ability of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype to predict increased intra-abdominal adiposity was examined in a well-characterized cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes (CHICAGO trial). Subjects were divided into 3 groups (group 1: waist circumference (WC) ≤90 cm in men and ≤85 cm in women and triglycerides (TG) levels <177 mg/dl; group 2: WC >90 cm in men and >85 cm in women and TG <177 mg/dl; group 3: WC >90 cm in men and >85 cm in women and TG ≥177 mg/dl). Subjects in group 3 had significantly higher levels of intra-abdominal adipose tissue and coronary artery calcium compared to group 2, despite similar age, body mass index and WC. Thus, even in the presence of type 2 diabetes, the addition of TG levels to WC measurements allows the identification of subjects with the highest levels of intra-abdominal adiposity. The association of the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype with atherosclerosis may be explained by the atherogenic lipoprotein profile associated with this phenotype.
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