Abstract
Epicardial fat is true visceral fat deposited around sub epicardial coronary vessels; it has been implicated in the development of coronary atherosclerosis. Epicardial fat has been also associated with insulin resistance. Tran’s thoracic echocardiography provides a reliable measurement of epicardial fat thickness.Objective: To evaluate the association between epicardial fat thickness with metabolic syndrome and anthropometric parameters of adiposity. Methods: We assessed 70 patients who underwent echocardiography; the epicardial fat thickness on the free wall of the right ventricle was measured at end-diastole from the parasternal long-axis views of 3 cardiac cycles with Aloka Alfa 6 equipment (Japan), by 2 cardiologists who were unaware of the clinical data. Metabolic syndrome was defined according with the International Diabetes Federation criteria. The association between epicardial fat thicknesses with metabolic syndrome was evaluated with the fisher exact test, whereas its correlation with body mass index, and waist circumference was evaluated with the Pearson coefficient. Results: We found a significant association between epicardial fat thickness and metabolic syndrome (p = 0.0076), we also found a significant correlation between epicardial fat and body mass index (r = 0.51, p = 0.00001) and with waist circumference (r = 0.472, p = 0.0004). Conclusion: Epicardial fat thickness is associated with metabolic syndrome and anthropometric parameters related with adiposity, and may contribute to the cardiovascular risk of these patients.
Highlights
IntroductionEpicardial adipose tissue is a true visceral fat tissue deposited around the heart, between the myocardium and the pericardium; physiological functions of epicardial fat includes mechanical protection to myocardium, and to be a source of energy and antiatherogenic adipokines
When we correlated epicardial fat thickness with the anthropometric parameters of adiposity, we found a significant correlation between epicardial fat and both, body mass index (r = 0.51, p = 0.00001, figure # 1) and with waist circumference (r = 0.472, p = 0.0004, Figure # 2)
Epicardial fat secretes adipokines that are able to reach the myocardium throw several pathways, and its pathophysiological roles are not well understood, Epicardial Fat Thickness (EFT) has been emerged as a new risk factor that perhaps plays a role in the development of metabolic diseases, and may be useful as a marker of visceral adiposity[8]
Summary
Epicardial adipose tissue is a true visceral fat tissue deposited around the heart, between the myocardium and the pericardium; physiological functions of epicardial fat includes mechanical protection to myocardium, and to be a source of energy and antiatherogenic adipokines. It is important to say that as the myocardium and the epicardial fat share the same microcirculation, both tissues interact through the secretion of adipokines[2]. Excess of epicardial fat has been associated with increased left ventricular mass, with the release of pro inflammatory and proatherogenic adipokines, and with the development of atherosclerosis[3]. The normal amount of epicardial fat has not been established, an epicardial fat thickness ≥ 3 mm has been related with an increased risk of coronary heart disease[4]
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