Associations of Central Adiposity With Subclinical Coronary Calcification and Disease Progression: Meta-Analysis of 68,629 Participants
Authors' conclusion
Central adiposity measures (WHR and WC) show stronger associations with CAC presence and progression than BMI, supporting their use as markers of cardiovascular risk while highlighting limitations of BMI alone. (Anthropometrics and subclinical coronary artery calcification: a systematic review and meta-analysis; CRD420251083057).
Study context
- Population
- Individuals without established cardiovascular diseaseForty-nine studies (33 coronary artery calcium (CAC) presence, 16 progression) across 10 countries · CAC presence 43,490 · CAC progression 25,141
- Comparison
- Associations of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) with CAC presence and progression
- Outcome
- CAC presence (CAC = 0 vs >0)
Methodological detailsrandom-effects models, meta-regression
- Random-effects models
- Meta-regression
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
- WHR SMD (higher in those with CAC >0), 95% CI 0.35-0.56, I2 = 81%
- 0.46
- WC SMD (higher in those with CAC >0), 95% CI 0.23-0.40, I2 = 86%
- 0.32
- BMI SMD (not significant), 95% CI −0.03-0.29, I2 = 98%
- 0.13
- WHR showed a stronger association than WC
- P = 0.04
Further pooled results
CAC progression · mean follow-up 4.9 ± 3.0 years
- WC SMD, 95% CI 0.27-0.42, I2 = 64%
- 0.34
- BMI SMD, 95% CI 0.16-0.27, I2 = 29%
- 0.21
- WC more strongly associated than BMI
- P = 0.01
Meta-regression, CAC presence
- Attenuation with higher hypertension prevalence
Original publication
Associations of Central Adiposity With Subclinical Coronary Calcification and Disease Progression: Meta-Analysis of 68,629 Participants. JACC Adv. Published 21 May 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →