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[Epicardial adiposity as risk factor of coronary atherosclerosis]

G A Chumakova, N G Veselovskaia, O V Gritsenko

    Kardiologiia
    |April 4, 2013
    PubMed

    Insights

    Epicardial adiposity, measured as thickness of epicardial fat, is a significant predictor of coronary atherosclerosis. Higher epicardial fat thickness is associated with more severe coronary artery disease and increased risk.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Medical Imaging
    • Biomedical Engineering

    Background:

    • Coronary atherosclerosis is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease.
    • Epicardial adipose tissue plays a role in cardiovascular health.
    • Understanding predictors of coronary atherosclerosis is crucial for risk stratification.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the association between epicardial adiposity and the risk and severity of coronary atherosclerosis.
    • To determine if epicardial fat thickness is a predictor of significant coronary artery disease.

    Main Methods:

    • Study included 138 men with ischemic heart disease, angina, and obesity.
    • Coronary angiography (CAG) was performed to assess coronary atherosclerosis.
    • Transthoracic echocardiography (ECG) was used to measure epicardial fat thickness (tEF).

    Main Results:

    • Average tEF was highest in patients with multiple coronary artery stenoses.
    • ROC analysis identified tEF as a predictor of significant coronary atherosclerosis (sensitivity 80.4%, specificity 67.6%, cut-off 6 mm).
    • Epicardial adiposity was significantly associated with coronary atherosclerosis (OR 4.44), along with age, leptin, resistin, and waist circumference.

    Conclusions:

    • Epicardial fat thickness is a valuable predictor of significant coronary atherosclerosis.
    • Increased epicardial adiposity is linked to a higher risk and severity of coronary artery disease.
    • tEF measurement via echocardiography can aid in assessing cardiovascular risk.
    Abstract

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