Body composition analysis
Computed tomography (CT) images were retrieved from digital PACS and
analyzed using ImageJ software (ImageJ; The National Institutes of
Health, Washington, MD, USA; version 1.47) as previously described9. Briefly, VAT area (cm2) was
measured on a single axial CT image at the third lumbar vertebra (L3)
using Hounsfield unit (HU) thresholds of -190 to -30, in line with
accepted methodology 10,11. This parameter is highly
correlated with total body adipose tissue 12.Images
analysis was performed by a single researcher specifically trained for
the task. VO was defined using sex-specific VAT cut-off values11,13 as follows: VO group with VAT>
163.8 cm2 in males and VAT> 80.1
cm2 in females and non-visceral obese (Non-VO) group
with VAT below these thresholds.