The association of metabolic health obesity with incidence of carotid artery plaque in Chinese adults

Background and aims: We aimed to evaluate the association between different obese phenotypes with carotid artery plaque (CAP) event. Method and results: The current retrospective cohort study was performed in 32,778 Chinese adults (19,221 men and 13,557 women, aged 41.9 +/- 11.0 years). Obese phenotypes were assessed based on baseline body mass index (<24.0 vs. >= 24.0 kg/m(2)) and metabolic characteristics (health vs. unhealth). All the participants were further classified into four groups: metabolic health and normal weight (MHNW), metabolic unhealth and normal weight (MUHNW), metabolic health and overweight (MHO), and metabolic unhealth and overweight (MUHO). Ultrasound B-mode imaging was annually performed to evaluate CAP throughout the study. We have identified 2142 CAP cases during 5-year follow-up. Comparing with the MHNW group, the hazard ratios for the risk of incident CAP was 2.44 (95% CI:1.92 and 3.09) for the MUHNW group, 1.52 (95% CI:1.06 and 2.18) for the MHO group, and 1.8 (95% CI:1.4 and 2.33) for the MUHO group. The association was more pronounced in young adults (<65 y) than that in aged adults (>= 65 y). Sensitivity analysis generated similar results with the main analysis. Conclusion: MUHNW, MHO, and MUHO were associated with the risk of CAP. (C) 2021 The Italian Diabetes Society, the Italian Society for the Study of Atherosclerosis, the Italian Society of Human Nutrition and the Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Federico II University. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.