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Review
. 2022 Sep 29:2022:2090309.
doi: 10.1155/2022/2090309. eCollection 2022.

The Predictive Value of Epicardial Fat Tissue Volume in the Occurrence and Development of Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Qiankun Fan  1   2 , Yinge Zhan  1 , Mingqi Zheng  1 , Fangfang Ma  1 , Lishuang Ji  1 , Lei Zhang  1 , Gang Liu  1
Affiliations
Review

The Predictive Value of Epicardial Fat Tissue Volume in the Occurrence and Development of Atrial Fibrillation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Qiankun Fan et al. Cardiol Res Pract. .

Abstract

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is one of the most common arrhythmias in clinical practice. Although fat is currently considered to be a risk factor for AF and a pathogenic link between epicardial fat tissue (EFT) and AF has been speculated, there are currently few clinical studies and literature data domestically or abroad.

Objective: This study conducted a meta-analysis of observational case series studies to verify the relationship between atrial fibrillation and EFT and to strengthen the predictive value of EFT in the occurrence, development, and postablative recurrence of AF.

Methods: We conducted a systematic search of the literature in electronic databases until December 2021 and supplemented this through manual searches of individual studies, reviewed articles, and reference lists in conference proceedings. This study conducted a meta-analysis to compare the differences between different populations, such as healthy participants and AF patients, healthy subjects and AF subtype cases, and paroxysmal and persistent AF with AF recurrence and without AF recurrence after ablation.

Results: Following the retrieval of 828 articles, only 22 articles were selected as research results. Accordingly, the meta-analysis results show that the volume of EFT in AF is greater than that in healthy subjects (MD = 39.34 ml, 95% CI = 27.11, 51.58); persistent AF is greater than paroxysmal AF (MD = 14.37 ml, 95% CI = 7.46, 21.27); and recurrence after ablation is greater than without recurrence (MD = 14.37 ml, 95% CI = 7.46, 21.27).

Conclusion: The results of this study further confirm the connection between EFT and AF and that EFT has a certain predictive value for the occurrence and development of AF.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flow chart of study selection.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest map of EFT volume differences among different populations: (a) healthy participants and all AF cases; (b) healthy participants and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; (c) healthy participants and persistent atrial fibrillation; (d) paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and persistent atrial fibrillation; and (e) recurrent and nonrecurring patients after ablation.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Sensitivity analysis plot of EFT volume differences among different populations: (a) healthy participants and all AF cases; (b) healthy participants and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; (c) healthy participants and persistent atrial fibrillation; (d) paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and persistent atrial fibrillation; and (e) recurrent and nonrecurring patients after ablation.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Funnel plot of EFT volume differences among different populations: (a) healthy participants and all AF cases; (b) healthy participants and paroxysmal atrial fibrillation; (c)) healthy participants and persistent atrial fibrillation; (d) paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and persistent atrial fibrillation; and (e) recurrent and nonrecurring patients after ablation.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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