title: Epidemiology of fat replacement of the right ventricular myocardium determined by multislice computed tomography using a logistic regression model.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We frequently observe fat replacement (FR) of the anterior wall of the right ventricular myocardium (RVM), but its epidemiological significance is not clear.
  
  
  METHODS
  49 consecutive subjects (28 males, 36-83 years old, median 67) underwent enhanced ECG-gated multislice CT (Light speed ultra 16, General Electrics, WI) and we retrospectively analyzed the presence of FR of RVM. A logistic model for predicting FR of RVM was constructed using age, sex, hypertension [HT], diabetes mellitus [DM], hyperlipidemia [HL] smoking, obesity (body mass index >25.0) and calcified and non-calcified plaques of coronary arteries (CA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  FR of RVM was detected in 21 subjects (12 males, 51-78 years old, median 67), 76% of whom had HT, 38% DM, 43% HL, 48% smoking history, 52% were obese, and 76% had calcified and 24% had non-calcified plaques of CA. Only obesity was significantly higher in FR (p<0.05). A logistic regression model showed, although there was a close association between obesity and an increased incidence of FR, it did not reach statistical significance (p=0.0515, relative risk 5.11).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Obesity is significantly more common in cases of FR, and despite a negative multivariable analysis, may influence FR in the RVM. FR in obesity may occur independently of clinically-significant arrhythmia, which is different from ARVC. Thus, even with FR, obesity must be considered as a diagnosis before ARVC.
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Imada
authors.forename: Nobusada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Funabashi
authors.forename: Miki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Masae
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.forename: Yasuhiko
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hori
authors.forename: Marehiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Issei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Komuro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D019571:Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed