Effects of obesity, body composition, and adiponectin on carotid intima-media thickness in healthy women

Context: Increased common carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is predictive of coronary artery disease and stroke. Objective: In this study, we investigated common carotid IMT by obesity category in a cohort of healthy women without previously known cardiovascular disease. Design, Setting, Participants, and Main Outcome Measures: One hundred healthy women (aged 24–59 yr) from the general community enrolled in an observational study conducted at an academic medical center participated in the study. B-mode ultrasound imaging of the common carotid arteries was used to measure common carotid IMT in 99 subjects. Fat distribution was determined by computed tomography. Hormonal and inflammatory parameters related to cardiovascular disease and obesity were measured. Results: IMT was higher in obese [body mass index (BMI) ≥ 30 kg/m2], compared with overweight women (BMI ≥ 25 and < 30 kg/m2) [0.69 mm, interquartile range (IQR) 0.60–0.75 mm] vs. 0.62 mm [IQR 0.56–0.68 mm), P = 0.044] and in comparison with lean wom...