Association of Epicardial Fat, Hypertension, Subclinical Coronary Artery Disease, and Metabolic Syndrome With Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction

• Published in: The American journal of cardiology 2012-12, Vol.110 (12), p.1793-1798
• Main Authors: Cavalcante, João L., MD, Tamarappoo, Balaji K., MD, PhD, Hachamovitch, Rory, MD, MSc, Kwon, Deborah H., MD, Alraies, M. Chadi, MD, Halliburton, Sandra, PhD, Schoenhagen, Paul, MD, Dey, Damini, PhD, Berman, Daniel S., MD, Marwick, Thomas H., MD, PhD, MPH
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Arterial hypertension. Arterial hypotension; Biological and medical sciences; Blood and lymphatic vessels; Cardiology. Vascular system; Cardiovascular; Cardiovascular disease; Cholesterol; Coronary Artery Disease - diagnostic imaging; Coronary Artery Disease - physiopathology; Coronary heart disease; Diabetes; Diastole; Echocardiography; Female; Heart; Heart attacks; Heart failure, cardiogenic pulmonary edema, cardiac enlargement; Humans; Hypertension - diagnostic imaging; Hypertension - physiopathology; Male; Medical sciences; Metabolic diseases; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - diagnostic imaging; Metabolic Syndrome - physiopathology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Obesity; Other metabolic disorders; Pericardium - pathology; Risk Factors; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left - diagnostic imaging
• ISSN: 0002-9149; 1879-1913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2012.07.045

Epicardial fat is a metabolically active fat depot that is strongly associated with obesity, metabolic syndrome, and coronary artery disease (CAD). The relation of epicardial fat to diastolic function is unknown. We sought to (1) understand the relation of epicardial fat volume (EFV) to diastolic function and (2) understand the role of EFV in relation to potential risk factors (hypertension, subclinical CAD, and metabolic syndrome) of diastolic dysfunction in apparently healthy subjects with preserved systolic function and no history of CAD. We studied 110 consecutive subjects (65% men, 55 ± 13 years old, mean body mass index 28 ± 5 kg/m2 ) who underwent cardiac computed tomography and transthoracic echocardiography within 6 months as part of a self-referred health screening program. Exclusion criteria included history of CAD, significant valvular disease, systolic dysfunction (left ventricular ejection fraction