Epicardial fat tissue can predict subclinical left ventricular dysfunction in patients with erectile dysfunction

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Echocardiography
• Vascular Biology

Background:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an early indicator of atherosclerosis and subclinical myocardial dysfunction.
• Epicardial fat tissue (EFT) is implicated in impaired left ventricular (LV) function, even without diagnosed cardiovascular disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between epicardial fat tissue (EFT) and LV systolic function in patients with ED.
• Utilize the 2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) method for precise measurements.

Main Methods:

• Compared 129 consecutive ED patients with 145 age- and sex-matched controls.
• Assessed ED using the International Index of Erectile Function questionnaire.
• Measured EFT thickness via transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and quantified global LV longitudinal strain (LV-GLS) and global LV circumferential strain (LV-GCS) using 2D-STE.

Main Results:

• EFT thickness was significantly higher in the ED group (p <.01).
• ED patients exhibited greater deterioration in LV-GLS (-18.2 ± 2.7) and LV-GCS (-19.5 ± 4.1) compared to controls.
• EFT thickness independently predicted LV dysfunction.

Conclusions:

• EFT thickness is significantly associated with subclinical LV systolic dysfunction in patients presenting with ED.
• Findings highlight EFT as a potential biomarker for early cardiac changes in ED.