Visceral adipose index, lipid accumulation product, and selected cardiometabolic risk markers among postmenopausal Sudanese women: A cross-sectional study

Background

In Sub-Saharan African countries, data examining postmenopausal women's cardiometabolic risk (CMR) remains limited. Our study aimed to assess the visceral adiposity index (VAI) and lipid accumulation product (LAP), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), and physical activity levels of postmenopausal women and determine their CMR.

Methods

A cross-sectional study included 224 postmenopausal women aged ≥47 years recruited from Khartoum State, Sudan. Weight, height, waist and hip circumferences were measured. Physical activity levels were determined using the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire version 2. Fasting blood samples (5 mL) were collected to determine the lipid profile. The VAI and LAP were calculated as indicators for visceral adiposity, whereas AIP was calculated as an indicator of CVD risk.

Results

The postmenopausal women's mean age was 62.4 ± 10.2 years. Women (29.2%; 54/185) were physically inactive, with most inactive women being >64 years and having ≥5 CVD risk factors compared with the active and very active women with 3–4 CVD risk factors. Women had high total cholesterol (24.6%), triglycerides (26.6%), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (14.3%), and low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (61.2%) levels. Moreover, women (33.5%) had a high CVD risk. In multiple regression analyses, AIP increased significantly with VAI and BMI. The ROC analysis revealed that the highest and statistically significant AUC was recorded for VAI followed by LAP among postmenopausal women, suggesting their diagnostic significance for CVD risk.

Conclusion

VAI and LAP were closely associated with an increased risk of CVD in postmenopausal Sudanese women and were considered the best diagnostic performance.