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Review
. 2024 Sep;26(9):381-388.
doi: 10.1007/s11906-024-01302-7. Epub 2024 Apr 20.

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure

Aneesh Dhore-Patil  1 , Daniela Urina-Jassir  2 , Rohan Samson  3 , Thierry H Le Jemtel  4 , Suzanne Oparil  5
Affiliations
Review

Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure

Aneesh Dhore-Patil et al. Curr Hypertens Rep. 2024 Sep.

Abstract

Purpose of the review: Preserved ejection fraction heart failure and obesity frequently coexist. Whether obesity plays a consistent role in the pathogenesis of preserved ejection fraction heart failure is unclear. Accumulation of visceral adiposity underlies the pathogenic aftermaths of obesity. However, visceral adiposity imaging is assessed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance and thus not routinely available. In contrast, epicardial adiposity thickness is assessed by echocardiography and thus routinely available. We review the rationale for assessing epicardial adiposity thickness in patients with preserved ejection fraction heart failure and elevated body mass index.

Recent findings: Body mass index correlates poorly with visceral, and epicardial adiposity. Visceral and epicardial adiposity enlarges as preserved ejection fraction heart failure progresses. Epicardial adiposity may hasten the progression of coronary artery disease and impairs left ventricular sub-endocardial perfusion and diastolic function. Epicardial adiposity thickness may help monitor the therapeutic response in patients with preserved ejection failure heart failure and elevated body mass index.

Keywords: Elevated body mass index; Epicardial fat; Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; Obesity; Visceral adiposity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work. Financial interests: All authors declare they have no financial interests. Non-financial interests: Dr. Suzanne Oparil was the editor-in-chief of Current of Hypertension Reports.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Parasternal long axis window from transthoracic echocardiogram, depicting a layer of epicardial fat between the myocardium and epicardium
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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