Relationship between epicardial fat tissue and left ventricular synchronicity: An observational study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Cardiac Imaging
• Echocardiography

Background:

• Left ventricular (LV) systolic synchrony is crucial for optimal cardiac function.
• Impaired LV synchrony is associated with adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
• Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is linked to LV dysfunction and hypertrophy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between epicardial fat tissue (EFT) thickness and LV systolic synchrony.
• To determine if EFT is an independent predictor of impaired LV synchrony.

Main Methods:

• Transthoracic echocardiography with 2D and tissue Doppler imaging was used.
• LV systolic synchrony was assessed using maximal difference (Ts-6) and standard deviation (Ts-SD-6) of time to peak systolic velocity in 6 LV basal segments.
• Multiple regression analysis identified independent predictors of LV synchrony in 55 patients without bundle branch block (BBB).

Main Results:

• Mean EFT thickness was 2.7±1.6 mm.
• Mean Ts-6 was 20.1±14.2 msec and mean Ts-SD-6 was 7.7±5.6.
• EFT thickness showed an independent association with both Ts-6 (β=0.332, p=0.01) and Ts-SD-6 (β=0.286, p=0.04).

Conclusions:

• Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) thickness is significantly associated with left ventricular (LV) systolic synchrony.
• These findings highlight a potential link between visceral cardiac fat and myocardial electrical activation patterns in patients without BBB.