Relationship between Echocardiographic Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT) Thickness and Angiographically Detected Coronary Artery Disease

Abstract

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a particular form of visceral adipose tissue deposited around the heart and there is growing evidence about the physiological and metabolic importance of EAT, especially in the association of cardiovascular risk profiles and the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. This observational, cross sectional study was done to determine the relationship between echocardiographic epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness and coronary artery disease (CAD). Total 123 patients with established or suspected coronary artery disease admitted for coronary angiogram in the department of Cardiology of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) from November 2010 to the end of April 2011 were included in this study. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness measurements by echocardiography were compared with coronary angiographic findings. Echocardiographic epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness was significantly higher in patients with CAD in comparison to those with normal coronary arteries (6.67±2.24mm vs. 4.61±1.62mm; p<0.001). Furthermore, EAT thickness increased with the severity of CAD (multi-vessel disease 7.99±2.12mm vs. single vessel disease 5.93±1.97mm; p<0.001). Gensini's score significantly correlated with EAT thickness (r=0.617, p<0.001). Optimum cut-off point (OCP) of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness as a predictor of angiographic CAD was 6.44mm with 45.31% sensitivity and 92.86% specificity [ROC area 0.756, p<0.001, 95%CI (0.66-0.85)]. Echocardiographic epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness was significantly correlated with the presence and severity of angiographically detected coronary artery disease (CAD).