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Pericardial fat volume and coronary atherosclerotic markers among body mass index groups

Mohammed Bader Hassan1, Hussein Nafakhi2, Abdulameer A Al-Mosawi3

  • 1Radiology Department, Medicine College, Aliraqia University, Baghdad, Iraq.

Clinical Cardiology
|June 4, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Pericardial fat volume (PFV) links to coronary atherosclerosis differently across BMI categories. In normal weight individuals, increased PFV indicates advanced disease, while in obese patients, it correlates with non-calcified plaque.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Radiology
  • Preventive Cardiology

Background:

  • Increased pericardial fat volume (PFV) is linked to coronary atherosclerosis burden, independent of body mass index (BMI).
  • Previous studies have not stratified the association between PFV and coronary atherosclerosis markers by BMI categories.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the relationship between PFV, measured by multi-detector CT (MDCT) angiography, and coronary atherosclerotic markers.
  • To assess these associations across different BMI categories: obese, overweight, and normal weight.

Main Methods:

  • 496 patients with suspected coronary artery disease undergoing 64-slice MDCT angiography were analyzed.
  • Patients were categorized into obese, overweight, and normal weight groups based on BMI.

Main Results:

  • In obese patients, PFV correlated with coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, non-calcified plaque, and significant stenosis. This association persisted after adjusting for cardiac risk factors.
  • In normal weight patients, PFV was associated with CAC and significant stenosis, remaining significant after risk factor adjustment. No association with plaque type was found.
  • No significant independent association between PFV and coronary atherosclerotic markers was observed in the overweight group.

Conclusions:

  • Increased PFV is associated with advanced atherosclerosis in normal weight individuals.
  • In obese individuals, increased PFV is linked to non-calcified plaque.
  • The relationship between PFV and coronary atherosclerosis markers varies significantly across different BMI categories.
Abstract

Keywords:
BMICT angiographycoronary atherosclerosisobesitypericardial fat

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