Association of adipose tissue infiltration with cardiac function: scoping review

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Metabolic Health
• Biomarker Research

Background:

• Adipose tissue (AT) infiltration in skeletal muscles is increasingly recognized for its potential impact on systemic health.
• The specific role of skeletal muscle AT infiltration as a biomarker for cardiac dysfunction remains largely unexplored in adult populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a scoping review examining the relationship between skeletal muscle adipose tissue infiltration and cardiac function in adults.
• To assess the potential of adipose tissue infiltration as a biomarker for cardiovascular health.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, CINAHL, and SCOPUS databases.
• Inclusion of peer-reviewed studies reporting skeletal muscle AT infiltration and cardiac function measures in adults.
• Quality assessment using the Study Quality Assessment Tool (SQAT); three good-quality studies were included.

Main Results:

• A negative association was found between skeletal muscle AT infiltration and cardiac function parameters.
• Impaired cardiac function included reduced exercise capacity, lower left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and increased heart failure events.
• These associations were observed in both cancer survivors and healthy individuals, independent of general obesity.

Conclusions:

• Evidence supports an association between increased skeletal muscle AT infiltration and impaired cardiac function.
• Skeletal muscle AT infiltration may represent a distinct indicator of cardiac dysfunction.
• Further research is warranted to validate AT infiltration as a potential clinical biomarker for cardiovascular health.