Correlation between epicardial adipose tissue and myocardial injury in patients with COVID-19

• Published in: Frontiers in physiology 2024, Vol.15, p.1368542-1368542
• Main Authors: Su, Tianhong, Zhong, Bincheng, Tang, Chao, Qiao, Shunsong, Feng, Yu, Peng, Hao, Gu, Xiaosong
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: COVID-19; cTnI; epicardial adipose tissue; LDL-C; myocardial injury
• ISSN: 1664-042X; 1664-042X
• DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1368542

Many people infected with COVID-19 develop myocardial injury. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is among the various risk factors contributing to coronary artery disease. However, its correlation with myocardial injury in patients diagnosed with COVID-19 remains uncertain. : We examined myocardial biomarkers in population affected by COVID-19 during the period from December 2022 to January 2023. The patients without myocardial injury were referred to as group A ( = 152) and those with myocardial injury were referred to as group B ( = 212). 1) The A group and the B group exhibitedstatistically significant differences in terms of age, TC, CRP, Cr, BUN, LDL-C, IL-6, BNP, LVEF and EAT ( < 0.05). 2) EAT volumehad a close relationship with IL-6, LDL-C, cTnI, and CRP ( < 0.05); the corresponding correlation coefficient values were 0.24, 0.21, 0.24, and 0.16. In contrast to those with lower EAT volume, more subjects with a higher volume of EAT had myocardial injury ( < 0.05). Regression analysis showed that EAT, LDL-C, Age and Cr were established as independent risk variables for myocardial injury in subjects affected by COVID-19. 3) In COVID-19 patients, the likelihood of myocardial injury rised notably as EAT levels increase ( < 0.001). Addition of EAT to the basic risk model for myocardial injury resulted in improved reclassification. (Net reclassification index: 58.17%, 95% CI: 38.35%, 77.99%, < 0.001). Patients suffering from COVID-19 with higher volume EAT was prone to follow myocardial injury and EAT was an independent predictor of heart damage in these individuals.