Anthropometric Prediction of Visceral Adipose Tissue in Persons With Motor Complete Spinal Cord Injury.

BACKGROUND

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in increased accumulation of visceral adipose tissue (VAT). Anthropometrics may provide an alternative to estimate VAT cross-section area (CSA) compared to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

OBJECTIVE

To validate the use of anthropometrics, including abdominal circumference and skinfold thickness (SFT) measurements against MRI to predict subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and VAT cross-sectional areas in persons with SCI.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional.

SETTING

Clinical research center PARTICIPANT: Twenty-two men with motor complete SCI

METHODS

Anthropometric measurements and MRI were taken during a single visit. Abdominal circumference and SFT were used to derive prediction equations for subcutaneous adipose tissue (SATAnthro-CSA) and VAT (VATAnthro-CSA). Three-axial MRI at the level of umbilicus was used to establish the prediction equations. VATAnthro-CSA was compared against body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, and SFT. Bland-Altman plots were used to determine limits of agreement between prediction equations and MRI.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: SAT and VAT cross-sectional areas.

RESULTS

SATAnthro-CSA explained 76% of the variance in SAT cross-sectional area (r2 = 0.76, standard error of the estimate [SEE] = 49.5 cm2, P <.001). VATAnthro-CSA explained 72% of VAT cross-sectional area (r2 = 0.72, SEE = 45.8 cm2, P <.001). Compared to VATAnthro-CSA, BMI, waist circumference, and SFT explained only 37%, 63%, and 31%, respectively, in the variance of VAT MRI.

CONCLUSION

Abdominal circumference and SFT demonstrated an alternative way to predict VAT CSA. VATAnthro-CSA estimated VATMRI more accurately than BMI, waist circumference, and SFT in individuals with chronic SCI.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: I.