Association between visceral adiposity index and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A cross-sectional analysis.

Among 16,167 NHANES participants, 1,397 were diagnosed with COPD.

• Data were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning 1999–2018 and 2021–2023.
• The overall COPD prevalence in the study sample was approximately 8.6% (1,397 of 16,167 participants).
• Cross-sectional study design was used, precluding causal inference.

Multivariable logistic regression revealed a positive correlation between VAI levels and COPD prevalence, independent of confounding factors.

• The association was assessed using multivariable logistic regression adjusting for confounding variables.
• Higher VAI levels were independently associated with increased prevalence of COPD.
• The analysis was supplemented by subgroup stratification, smoothed curve fitting, and threshold effect analyses.

Smoothed curve fitting identified a threshold effect for VAI with an inflection point at 2.55.

• The threshold (inflection point) was identified at a VAI value of 2.55.
• The threshold effect was statistically significant (P = 0.002).
• This suggests the relationship between VAI and COPD prevalence may differ below and above this VAI value.

Subgroup analyses indicated stronger associations between VAI and COPD in hypertensive patients and females.

• Subgroup stratification was performed to examine whether the VAI–COPD association varied across population subgroups.
• Hypertensive patients showed a stronger association between VAI and COPD compared to non-hypertensive participants.
• Female participants demonstrated a stronger VAI–COPD association compared to males.

The Visceral Adiposity Index (VAI) was investigated as a novel metabolic biomarker for its association with COPD risk.

• VAI is described as a novel metabolic biomarker reflecting visceral adipose function.
• The study hypothesized that higher VAI levels would be independently associated with an increased prevalence of COPD.
• The authors suggest that incorporating visceral adipose function assessment into initial risk stratification for high-risk COPD populations may hold clinical value.