title: Mesenteric fat thickness is associated with metabolic syndrome independently of Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index in subjects with obstructive sleep apnoea.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Mesenteric fat thickness (MFT) was associated with metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in separate studies. This study aimed to assess whether the association of MFT with MetS was independent of OSA in subjects with suspected OSA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred forty-two subjects (men: 181; women: 61) with suspected OSA underwent ultrasound examinations for measurements of mesenteric, subcutaneous and preperitoneal fat thicknesses after overnight polysomnography. Anthropometric measurements and metabolic risk profile were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred twenty-one (91%) subjects were confirmed to have OSA with Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI) >5/h. MFT had significant correlation (P < 0.01) with AHI and most MetS components. In partial correlation with adjustment for AHI, MFT had significant correlation (P < 0.01) with most MetS components including fasting plasma glucose (r = 0.25), triglycerides (r = 0.24), HDL cholesterol (r = -0.29) and waist circumference (r = 0.56). In multivariate logistic regression with adjustments for the confounding variables including AHI, MFT was the only variable independently associated with MetS, with the odds ratio of 5.48 (95% CI: 1.5-20.0) for every 1 cm increase of MFT. When the subjects were subdivided into obese (BMI ≥ 27.5 kg/m(2) ) and non-obese (BMI < 27.5 kg/m(2) ) groups, the positive association of MFT with MetS persisted in the non-obese group only, with the odds ratio of 22 (95% CI 2.8-174.1) for every 1 cm increase of MFT. The AHI had significant association with MetS in male subjects only.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MFT, rather than AHI, is the major independent determinant of MetS in subjects with suspected OSA, particularly in non-obese subjects. See Editorial, page 408.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kin Hung
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Winnie C W
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Kin Wang
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: To
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Fanny W S
authors.initials: FW
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Susanna S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Jenny C L
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ngai
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Ka Pang
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8163-5846
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Wing Ho
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Yip
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Interventional Radiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: Anil T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ahuja
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
authors.forename: David S C
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hui
mesh_terms: D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology*; D014463:Ultrasonography
keywords: Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index; mesenteric fat thickness; metabolic syndrome; obstructive sleep apnoea; ultrasonography