Abdominal adiposity assessed using CT angiography associates with acute kidney injury after trans-catheter aortic valve replacement

AIM: To determine if there is an association between area-based visceral abdominal adipose tissue (VAT), subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue (SAT), and abdominal circumference measured on computed tomography (CT) angiography before trans-catheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and post-TAVR acute kidney injury (AKI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study of 106 TAVR patients, SAT and VAT areas and abdominal circumference was measured on a single CT section at L4 vertebral level. Univariate comparisons between patients who did and did not develop AKI were undertaken for radiological measurements. Multivariable logistic regression was used to assess association between CT measurements and the development of post-TAVR AKI. RESULTS: Post-TAVR AKI occurred in 20 of 106 patients (19%). In univariate comparisons, body mass index (BMI) did not differ significantly between patients who did and did not develop AKI (p=0.14); however, VAT+SAT (443.2±163.7 versus 351±168.7 cm²; p=0.03), VAT (213.9±110.6 versus 153.9±96.1 cm²; p=0.03), and outer abdominal circumference (100.2±14.4 cm versus 91.8±13.3 cm; p=0.02) were significantly higher in the patients who did not develop post-TAVR AKI. These three measures on pre-TAVR CT angiogram remained significantly associated with reduced post-TAVR AKI with a lower incidence of post-TAVR AKI after multivariable adjustment for pre-TAVR estimated glomerular filtration rate and patient height (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study found that increased abdominal obesity as assessed by measures on pre-TAVR CT angiogram is associated with a significantly lower incidence of AKI.