Abstract:
Background: The prevalence of cardio-metabolic diseases (CMD) is drastically
increasing worldwide. Anthropometric measures of fat accumulation are correlated with
CMD and Metabolic Syndrome (MS), but few studies have addressed this association in
sub-Saharan African populations.
Aim: To investigate the association between anthropometric features, MS and other
CMD risk factors in a population from Kenya.
Subjects and methods: In this cross-sectional study including 1405 Kenyans,
anthropometric measurements including visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and abdominal
subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) were carried out. Fasting blood glucose and standard
oral glucose tolerance test, fasting serum insulin and plasma lipids were analysed.
Homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance was calculated. Systolic and
diastolic blood pressures were measured.
Results: CMD risk factors and MS were associated with all anthropometric features,
except for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels (p < 0.05). The strongest
association between MS and anthropometrics was seen with SAT (β = 1.45 ± 0.32 in men
and 0.88 ± 0.14 in women, both p < 0.05).
Conclusions: Anthropometric measures, especially features of central obesity such as
VAT and SAT, are relevant indicators of cardio-metabolic health in Kenyan populations.
SAT is the strongest predictor of MS. These results highlight the need for further
research on the pathological implication of VAT and SAT, in order to understand
patterns of fat distribution and cardio-metabolic health among different ethnic groups.