Association between cardiometabolic index and abdominal aortic calcification in US adults from the NHANES

Abstract Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and atherosclerosis are prevalent conditions among older adults, and recent research suggests that their association may extend beyond the effects of aging alone. An essential instrument for determining the possibility of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is...

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Main Authors: Minjiang Ren, Yifan Shen, Ye Yuan, Zhiyu Han, Yun Zhong, Shiming Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-05-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01848-9
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author Minjiang Ren
Yifan Shen
Ye Yuan
Zhiyu Han
Yun Zhong
Shiming Liu
author_facet Minjiang Ren
Yifan Shen
Ye Yuan
Zhiyu Han
Yun Zhong
Shiming Liu
author_sort Minjiang Ren
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and atherosclerosis are prevalent conditions among older adults, and recent research suggests that their association may extend beyond the effects of aging alone. An essential instrument for determining the possibility of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the cardiometabolic index (CMI), a new lipid-based index sensitive to visceral obesity. However, little has been established about the relationship between CMI and AAC. We examined CMI and AAC data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted in 2013–2014 for this study. The relationship between AAC, severe abdominal aortic calcification (SAAC), and CMI was assessed using multiple linear and logistic regression models. The overall trend was visualized using smoothed curve modeling. Subgroup analyses were conducted to find possible moderating factors. Among the 2704 participants included, those with higher CMI levels exhibited much greater AAC scores and a higher prevalence of SAAC. In model 3, elevated CMI positively correlated with AAC (0.25 (0.09, 0.41)) and with the odds of SAAC (OR = 1.35 (1.09, 1.67)). Participants in the highest CMI quartile had an AAC score that was 0.65 units higher (β = 0.65 (0.26, 1.04)) and an 114% higher risk of SAAC (OR = 2.14 (1.29, 3.54)). Subgroup analyses indicated sex and smoking status significantly modified the relationship between CMI, AAC, and SAAC, while previously diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) and heart attack significantly moderated the association between CMI and AAC. These results imply that greater AAC scores and a higher risk of SAAC are linked to heightened CMI, which represents visceral fat storage and disturbed lipid metabolism. Our findings indicate that CMI is correlated with AAC in certain demographic and cardiovascular subgroups, suggesting its potential as an exploratory indicator of elevated AAC risk in these populations.
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spelling doaj-art-fe37db0d3ad34dd48238c4d6285a82d52025-08-20T03:48:18ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-05-0115111010.1038/s41598-025-01848-9Association between cardiometabolic index and abdominal aortic calcification in US adults from the NHANESMinjiang Ren0Yifan Shen1Ye Yuan2Zhiyu Han3Yun Zhong4Shiming Liu5Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityDepartment of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Guangzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) and atherosclerosis are prevalent conditions among older adults, and recent research suggests that their association may extend beyond the effects of aging alone. An essential instrument for determining the possibility of cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the cardiometabolic index (CMI), a new lipid-based index sensitive to visceral obesity. However, little has been established about the relationship between CMI and AAC. We examined CMI and AAC data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) conducted in 2013–2014 for this study. The relationship between AAC, severe abdominal aortic calcification (SAAC), and CMI was assessed using multiple linear and logistic regression models. The overall trend was visualized using smoothed curve modeling. Subgroup analyses were conducted to find possible moderating factors. Among the 2704 participants included, those with higher CMI levels exhibited much greater AAC scores and a higher prevalence of SAAC. In model 3, elevated CMI positively correlated with AAC (0.25 (0.09, 0.41)) and with the odds of SAAC (OR = 1.35 (1.09, 1.67)). Participants in the highest CMI quartile had an AAC score that was 0.65 units higher (β = 0.65 (0.26, 1.04)) and an 114% higher risk of SAAC (OR = 2.14 (1.29, 3.54)). Subgroup analyses indicated sex and smoking status significantly modified the relationship between CMI, AAC, and SAAC, while previously diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) and heart attack significantly moderated the association between CMI and AAC. These results imply that greater AAC scores and a higher risk of SAAC are linked to heightened CMI, which represents visceral fat storage and disturbed lipid metabolism. Our findings indicate that CMI is correlated with AAC in certain demographic and cardiovascular subgroups, suggesting its potential as an exploratory indicator of elevated AAC risk in these populations.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01848-9Cardiometabolic indexAbdominal aortic calcificationCross-sectional studyNHANES
spellingShingle Minjiang Ren
Yifan Shen
Ye Yuan
Zhiyu Han
Yun Zhong
Shiming Liu
Association between cardiometabolic index and abdominal aortic calcification in US adults from the NHANES
Scientific Reports
Cardiometabolic index
Abdominal aortic calcification
Cross-sectional study
NHANES
title Association between cardiometabolic index and abdominal aortic calcification in US adults from the NHANES
title_full Association between cardiometabolic index and abdominal aortic calcification in US adults from the NHANES
title_fullStr Association between cardiometabolic index and abdominal aortic calcification in US adults from the NHANES
title_full_unstemmed Association between cardiometabolic index and abdominal aortic calcification in US adults from the NHANES
title_short Association between cardiometabolic index and abdominal aortic calcification in US adults from the NHANES
title_sort association between cardiometabolic index and abdominal aortic calcification in us adults from the nhanes
topic Cardiometabolic index
Abdominal aortic calcification
Cross-sectional study
NHANES
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-01848-9
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