Truncal fat determined by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry is an independent predictor of coronary artery disease extension.

Background: Controversy prevails regarding the existence of a correlation between the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the extent and distribution of obesity.

Purpose: To assess the correlation between total fat, truncal fat (TF), and lean mass, obtained with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) and standard anthropomorphic indices (body mass index, waist circumference, waist-to-hip ratio) and to verify whether DEXA indices can predict the extent and severity of CAD.

Materials And Methods: Fifty-eight patients (19 females) consecutively referred for coronary angiography underwent physical examination and DEXA assessment of body composition.

Results: Of the 58 patients enrolled, 22 were overweight and 13 were obese. Significant CAD was found in 39 (67%) patients. DEXA-derived total mass and fat mass enabled us to distinguish overweight from obese patients (P<0.005), whereas just TF mass correlated with the number of diseased vessels after adjusting for body mass index, sex, age, and smoking habit (odds ratio, 8.68; 95% confidence interval: 1.02-74.10).

Conclusion: TF determined by DEXA is independently related with CAD extension.