ASSOCIATION BETWEEN EPICARDIAL ADIPOSE TISSUE THICKNESS AND PARAMETERS OF THE LEFT VENTRICULAR DIASTOLIC FUNCTION AND LEFT VENTRICULAR REMODELING IN PATIENTS WITH ABDOMINAL OBESITY

Abstract

Objective: The aim of study to assess the correlation between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) with the parameters of the left ventricular remodeling and diastolic function in patients with abdominal obesity. Design and method: The study included 104 patients (37,5% men, 62.5% women), mean age 38.59 ± 6.09 years with abdominal obesity (waist circumference (WT) > 80 cm in women, > 94 cm in men), without cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiographic examination (Vivid 7, Vivid 9 (GE Healthcare, USA)): left ventricular (LV) mass, LV mass index, LV mass/height index, LV diastolic function (assessed by the E/e’ ratio, Emlat, Emsept, Em/Am ratio) were estimated; EAT thickness measured on the free wall of the right ventricle from both parasternal long- and short-axis views at end-systole and end-diastole during three cardiac cycles. Results: The average of EAT thickness was at end-systole 6,7 ± 2,0 mm, end-diastole- 4,2 ± 1,7 mm. EAT correlated with WT (EAT at end-systole r = 0,43; p < 0,05; EAT at end-diastole r = 0,43; p < 0,05). EAT thickness was significantly correlated with LV diastolic function: positive correlation with E/Em ratio (EAT at end-systole r = 0,62; p < 0,05; EAT at end-diastole r = 0,56; p < 0,05); negative correlation was found with Em/Am ratio (EAT at end-systole r = -0,66; p < 0,05; EAT at end-diastole r = -0,59; p < 0,05); Emlat (EAT at end-systole r = -0,62; p < 0,05; EAT at end-diastole r = -0,51; p < 0,05); Emsept (EAT at end-systole r = -0,65; p < 0,05; EAT at end-diastole r = -0,60; p < 0,05). EAT thickness correlated with with LV mass (EAT at end-systole r = 0,52; p < 0,05; EAT at end-diastole r = 0,51; p < 0,05); LV mass index (EAT at end-systole r = 0,31; p < 0,05; EAT at end-diastole r = 0,32; p < 0,05); (EAT at end-systole r = 0,52; p < 0,05; EAT at end-diastole r = 0,51; p < 0,05); LV mass/height index (EAT at end-systole r = 0,44; p < 0,05; EAT at end-diastole r = 0,43; p < 0,05). Conclusions: The data suggest that EAT as ectopic visceral fat depot may affect on diastolic function and LV remodeling. Increased EAT thickness is strongly associated with LV diastolic disfunction.