Arq. Bras. Cardiol. 2024; 121(5): e20240288

Understanding the Link between Visceral Fat and Heart Health

Nuno Bettencourt

DOI: 10.36660/abc.20240288i

This Short Editorial is referred by the Research article "Resting Heart Rate Variability is Independently Associated with Visceral Fat Rating Scores in Saudi Adult Males".

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a significant global health concern, with obesity and its associated metabolic abnormalities contributing substantially to CVD risk. In recent years, research has increasingly focused on the role of visceral adipose tissue (VAT) in cardiovascular health, recognizing its unique contribution to metabolic dysfunction and cardiovascular risk.^,

Heart rate variability (HRV) is a measure of the variation in the time intervals between consecutive heartbeats, reflecting the balance between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems – and, therefore, serving as a valuable indicator of autonomic function and cardiovascular health. Reduced HRV is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, making it a potentially useful tool for risk assessment and monitoring in different clinical scenarios.^–

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