The effect of epicardial adipose tissue thickness on left ventricular diastolic functions in patients with normal coronary arteries

Abstract

Background and aim: The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness on left ventricular diastolic functions in patients with normal coronary arteries (NCA) proven by angiography.

Methods: We selected study patients who were referred to coronary angiography due to typical chest pain or atypical chest pain with a positive pre-test result for coronary artery disease (CAD). After coronary angiography, 85 patients with significant coronary lesion (≥ 50% stenosis) served as the CAD group, 82 patients with non-significant coronary lesion (< 50% stenosis) and/or a coronary plaque served as the non-significant CAD group, and 83 patients with NCA served as the NCA group. All patients underwent transthoracic echocardiographic examination to measure EAT thickness and left ventricular diastolic properties.

Results: Gensini score, total cholesterol, and C-reactive protein were significantly higher in the CAD group compared to the non-significant CAD group and the NCA group. The average of EAT thickness was 7.3 ± 2.4 mm in all groups. It was 5.8 ± 2.3 mm in the NCA group, 6.4 ± 2.4 mm in the non-significant CAD group, and 7.8 ± 2.2 mm in the CAD group (p < 0.001). In correlation analyses, average EAT thickness was significantly correlated with E/e’ ratio in the NCA group. In multivariate analysis, average of EAT thickness was significantly associated with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in subjects with NCA (OR 1.019, 95% CI 1.012–1.027, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Based on our findings, EAT thickness may have an effect on left ventricular diastolic functions. This independent relationship showed us the clinical importance of measuring of EAT thickness.