Elevated Metabolic Score for Visceral Fat Associated with Heightened Mortality Risk in Diabetic or Prediabetic Population

Strategic Insights -

A study published in the Hormone and Metabolic Research journal has found that a higher Metabolic Score for Visceral Fat (METS-VF) is associated with a significantly increased risk of mortality in individuals with diabetes or prediabetes. The research, conducted by a team of investigators from the Affiliated Kunshan Hospital of Jiangsu University, aimed to investigate the relationship between METS-VF and mortality risk in a cohort of US adults with diabetes or prediabetes.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study identified a cohort of 12,992 individuals with diabetes or prediabetes from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018) and recorded their baseline METS-VF measurements.
  • Over a median follow-up of 97 months, a total of 2,438 all-cause deaths and 662 cardiovascular deaths were recorded.
  • Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that individuals in the highest METS-VF quartile exhibited an adjusted hazard ratio of 2.857 (95% CI: 2.348-3.477) for all-cause mortality and 3.290 (95% CI: 2.218-4.881) for cardiovascular mortality compared to those in the lowest quartile.
  • A nonlinear relationship between METS-VF and mortality risk was observed, with inflection points identified at 7.093 for all-cause mortality and 7.220 for cardiovascular mortality.
  • The study concluded that elevated METS-VF levels are strongly associated with heightened risks of mortality among diabetic or prediabetic populations, underscoring their potential utility as a prognostic indicator.

Statistics:

  • 12,992: Number of individuals with diabetes or prediabetes identified from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2018).
  • 2,438: Total number of all-cause deaths recorded over a median follow-up of 97 months.
  • 662: Number of cardiovascular deaths recorded over a median follow-up of 97 months.
  • 2.857 (95% CI: 2.348-3.477): Adjusted hazard ratio for all-cause mortality in individuals in the highest METS-VF quartile compared to those in the lowest quartile.
  • 3.290 (95% CI: 2.218-4.881): Adjusted hazard ratio for cardiovascular mortality in individuals in the highest METS-VF quartile compared to those in the lowest quartile.
  • 7.093 and 7.220: Inflection points identified for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality, respectively.

Sources:

  • Metabolic Score for Visceral Fat as a Predictor of All-Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality in US Adults with Diabetes or Prediabetes. Hormone and Metabolic Research, 2025.
  • Hormone and Metabolic Research. Georg Thieme Verlag Kg, Rudigerstr 14, D-70469 Stuttgart, Germany.