The associations of body composition components, including muscle and adipose tissue, and markers of subclinical coronary artery disease are unclear. We examined the relation between abdominal computed tomography (CT)–derived measures of the area and density of fat and muscle with coronary artery calcification (CAC), using data from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). A total of 1,974 randomly selected MESA participants free of coronary heart disease underwent abdominal CT scans at examinations 2 or 3, with the resulting images interrogated for abdominal body composition. Using 6 cross-sectional slices spanning L2 to L5, the Medical Imaging Processing Analysis and Visualization software was used to determine abdominal muscle and fat composition using appropriate Hounsfield units ranges. CT chest scans were used to obtain CAC scores, calculated using the Agatston method and spatially weighted calcium score. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the relation between abdominal visceral fat and muscle area and density to prevalent CAC. A total of 1,089 participants had a CAC >0, with an average CAC score of 310. In the fully adjusted model, for every 10-cm increase in visceral fat area, the likelihood of having a CAC greater than 0 increased by 0.60% (p <0.001). In the minimally adjusted model, abdominal muscle area was significantly associated with CAC >0, which became nonsignificant in the fully adjusted model. For the density of visceral fat, every 1-Hounsfield unit increase (less lipid-dense fat tissue), the likelihood of having a CAC score >0 decreased by 0.29% (p <0.05). No significant relation was observed between density of abdominal muscle and CAC >0. A greater area and higher lipid density of abdominal visceral fat were associated with an increased likelihood of having CAC, whereas there was no significant relation between abdominal muscle area or density and CAC. The quantity and the quality of fat have associations, with an important marker of subclinical atherosclerosis, CAC, and their significance with respect to cardiovascular outcomes, require further evaluation.

中文翻译：

---

内脏脂肪、腹部肌肉和冠状动脉钙化之间的关联：动脉粥样硬化多种族研究的横断面分析

身体成分（包括肌肉和脂肪组织）与亚临床冠状动脉疾病标志物的关联尚不清楚。我们利用来自动脉粥样硬化多种族研究 (MESA) 的数据，研究了腹部计算机断层扫描 (CT) 得出的脂肪和肌肉面积和密度测量值与冠状动脉钙化 (CAC) 之间的关系。总共 1,974 名随机选择的无冠心病的 MESA 参与者在第 2 或第 3 次检查中接受了腹部 CT 扫描，并对所得图像进行了腹部身体成分检查。使用跨越 L2 至 L5 的 6 个横截面切片，使用医学成像处理分析和可视化软件使用适当的 Hounsfield 单位范围来确定腹部肌肉和脂肪成分。 CT 胸部扫描用于获得 CAC 评分，使用 Agatston 方法和空间加权钙评分进行计算。进行多变量线性和逻辑回归分析来评估腹部内脏脂肪和肌肉面积以及密度与普遍 CAC 之间的关系。共有 1,089 名参与者的 CAC >0，平均 CAC 得分为 310。在完全调整的模型中，内脏脂肪面积每增加 10 厘米，CAC 大于 0 的可能性就会增加 0.60%（ p <0.001）。在最小调整模型中，腹部肌肉面积与 CAC > 0 显着相关，而在完全调整模型中则变得不显着。对于内脏脂肪的密度，每增加 1-Hounsfield 单位（脂质密度脂肪组织减少），CAC 评分 >0 的可能性就会降低 0.29% (p <0.05)。腹肌密度与 CAC >0 之间没有观察到显着关系。腹部内脏脂肪面积越大、脂质密度越高，患 CAC 的可能性越高，而腹部肌肉面积或密度与 CAC 之间没有显着关系。脂肪的数量和质量与亚临床动脉粥样硬化的重要标志物 CAC 相关，其对心血管结局的重要性需要进一步评估。