Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between visceral adiposity index(VAI)and risk of ischemic cardiovascular disease(ICVD).Methods This cross-sectional study was performed among780 community residents(320men and 460women)from an urban community in Chengdu area,China.Each individual was performed with questionnaire survey,physical examination and biochemistry analysis,in addition,brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity(BaPWV)and augmentation index(AI)were conducted for them.Pearson correlation analysis was performed to explore the relationship between VAI and each cardiovascular risk factor.Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC)curve was performed to explore the value of VAI in identifying metabolic syndrome(MS).Liner regression model was used to analyze the relationship between VAI and ICVD.Results VAI was positively correlated with waist circumference,diastolic blood pressure,total triglycerides and other cardiovascular risk factors,and negatively correlated with HDL-C.VAI was positively correlated with BaPWV in women.Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC)curve prompted that the value of VAI in identifying metabolic syndrome(MS)was preferable(ROC area>0.8).VAI was associated with risk of ICVD(r=0.197,P<0.001).After adjusted with sex,age,blood pressure and other cardiovascular risk factors,VAI was also correlated with risk of ICVD(r=0.111,P<0.001).Conclusion VAI could well predict the occurrence of the metabolic syndrome(MS).In addition,higher VAI might increase risk of cardiovascular disease.While,the deep correlation between VAI and ICVD is unclear.Large-sample studies based on different races and ages are needed.