Ultrasound technologies in health centers - potential for early diagnosis of obesity

Aim. To study the ultrasound technologies opportunities in the health center settings at the stage of the working-age population screening examination for the early detection of obesity.

Methods. The main group consisted of 196 people of working age with various body mass index deviations. The control group is formed of 40 people with a normal body mass index. In addition to the established examination standard in the health center, trial subjects underwent an ultrasound scan using colour Doppler imaging and power Doppler sonography of blood flow in the anterior abdominal wall and the abdominal cavity vessels to assess borders, subcutaneous and visceral fat thickness indicators. Obtained results are compared with the X-ray computed tomography data.

Results. The obesity early diagnosis criteria based on adipose tissue thickness absolute and relative indicators quantitative values according to ultrasound study were determined. Using ultrasound technologies at the stage of the working-age population screening examination in health centers settings allowed to reveal obesity - manageable risk factor of chronic non-communicable diseases - in the early stages when preventive measures in the body weight correction process are the most effective. Results showed that for the obesity early diagnosis information about the visceral fat thickness is the most important, and demonstrated the need to measure not only the absolute but also relative indicators, such as visceral fat thickness and the visceral and subcutaneous fat thickness sum amount ratio coefficients (KVF/TF), as well as the subcutaneous and visceral fat thickness (KSF/VF). It was found that sonographic indicators of visceral fat thickness more than 31.1 mm and a KVF/TF more than 0.64, even in normal body mass indicate the visceral fat excess, what helped to further identify its excess in 20.4% of the subjects with normal body mass index.

Conclusion. Due to technical simplicity, accessibility, non-invasiveness of used ultrasound technologies, their use can be recommended both for obesity early diagnosis, and for further body weight control in working age people.