Abstract
BackgroundAlthough an increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume around the left atrium (LA) is related to the atrial fibrillation (AF) burden, the role of EAT inflammation in AF is unclear. We investigated the association between AF and inflammation of the EAT around the LA. MethodsWe retrospectively identified regions of EAT around the LA and measured the density of these areas using computed tomography (CT). ResultsA total of 32 patients who underwent their first catheter ablation for paroxysmal AF (PAF) were enrolled (mean age 62.5±11.1 years). Patients without a history of AF (n=32), but who underwent cardiac CT and were matched by age, sex, and metabolic risk factors, were enrolled in the control group (62.2±12.1 years). The mean EAT density around the LA was significantly higher in the PAF group than in the control group (−108.1±6.7 vs. −111.6±5.5 Hounsfield units; p=0.02), while the densities of subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) in the abdomen and thorax did not differ between the two groups. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, a higher EAT density was significantly associated with the presence of PAF after adjusting for other risk factors (odds ratio: 1.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.08–1.45, p=0.003). ConclusionsThis study supports the hypothesis that inflammation of EAT around the LA, but not SAT, is related to the presence of PAF.
Highlights
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a commonly encountered arrhythmia that is associated with high morbidity and mortality [1]
This study investigated the hypothesis that increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) density around the left atrium (LA) as determined by computed tomography (CT) is associated with the presence of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) (PAF)
Our results show that the EAT density around the LA in CT images was associated with the presence of PAF
Summary
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a commonly encountered arrhythmia that is associated with high morbidity and mortality [1]. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is ectopic visceral fat that surrounds the heart, and increased EAT volumes correlate with the prevalence of AF, as well as with the recurrence of AF after ablation therapy [6,7]. Increased fat thickness at the posterior left atrium (LA) may be related to the AF burden, independent of age, BMI, and the LA area [8,9]. An increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume around the left atrium (LA) is related to the atrial fibrillation (AF) burden, the role of EAT inflammation in AF is unclear. In a multiple logistic regression analysis, a higher EAT density was significantly associated with the presence of PAF after adjusting for other risk factors (odds ratio: 1.25; 95% confidence interval: 1.08–1.45, p = 0.003). Conclusions: This study supports the hypothesis that inflammation of EAT around the LA, but not SAT, is related to the presence of PAF
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