The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of body mass index, intra-abdominal (visceral) fat, subcutaneous fat, and waist circumference with coronary artery calcium (CAC) measured by computed tomography. This cross-sectional study included 321 consecutive Japanese patients (213 men and 108 women) who underwent computed tomography scanning for coronary heart disease. Coronary calcium, as defined by CAC>0, was observed in 73% of men and 57% of women. In a multivariate model, intra-abdominal fat area was an independent predictor of the presence and extent of CAC (odds ratio per one-unit-standard deviation increase in intra-abdominal fat area=2.48, 95% CI: 1.23-6.05). Similar associations were found in men and women. Additional analysis revealed that an intra-abdominal fat area of 116 cm2 in men and of 82 cm2 in women, simultaneously corresponding to waist circumference values of 87.7 cm and 82.6 cm, predicted the presence of CAC. In this cohort of Japanese patients, intra-abdominal fat was significantly associated with the presence and extent of CAC, used as a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis.
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