Visceral adiposity index in kidney stone patients who have undergone surgery

Abstract

Introduction The visceral adiposity index (VAI) is a gender-specific metabolic index that indirectly measures visceral adipose function and distribution using waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), and triglyceride and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol values. To assess visceral fat in the diagnostic pathway of urinary stone patients, we investigated the relationship between the VAI and nephrolithiasis as well as the relationship between the VAI and stone and surgery-related parameters. Material and methods Patients who underwent percutaneous nephrolithotomy and retrograde intrarenal surgery for kidney stones were included in the study. The control group comprised of healthy individuals who volunteered to take part in study and did not have urolithiasis as confirmed by abdominal computed tomography imaging. A total of 148 patients were divided into the nephrolithiasis (n = 103) and the control (n = 45) groups. Weight, height, BMI, waist circumference measurements, and VAI were among the metabolic parameters measured. Stone and surgical parameters were evaluated. Results VAI (4.57 vs 2.76), waist circumference (92.1 vs 87.1), and BMI (28.31 vs 26.51) values were higher in the nephrolithiasis group(p = 0.02,p = 0.04, p <0.001,respectively). The VAI was statistically significant in the multivariate analysis for the presence of nephrolithiasis (p <0.001). The VAI negatively correlated with the stone Hounsfield unit (HU) and positively correlated with very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), blood creatinine, and calcium levels. The relationship between VAI and surgical parameters was not significant. Conclusions A significant relationship was detected between nephrolithiasis and VAI, a new gender-specific metabolic index that distinguishes between subcutaneous and visceral adipose mass and demonstrates metabolic syndrome. No significant effect of this relationship on surgical parameters was demonstrated in the present study.

Is the visceral adiposity index a potential indicator for the risk of kidney stones?

“…Recently, a retrospective study reported by Sönmez et al. ( 33 ) concluded that the VAI was positively correlated with the creatinine levels in patients with KS. However, evidence regarding the association between the VAI and KS are limited.…”

The association of visceral adiposity index with the risk of kidney stone and kidney stone recurrence

“…A US study found a 3% prevalence of kidney stones in participants without comorbid metabolic syndrome and a significant increase in the prevalence of kidney stones in participants with comorbid metabolic syndrome (hyperlipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, hypertension, and abdominal obesity), with a 9.8% prevalence of kidney stones in those with five comorbid metabolic syndrome features [ 35 ]. Significant dyslipidemia has been identified in patients with kidney stones [ 36 ]. Another study found that dyslipidemia was associated with altered chemical composition in the urine and this chemical composition played a key role in stone formation, such as patients with high triglycerides exhibited increased uric acid excretion and significantly lower urinary pH, those with high total cholesterol had significantly higher urinary calcium levels, and patients with reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) showed significantly higher levels of oxalic acid and uric acid in their urine [ 37 ].…”