Pericardial fat amount is an independent risk factor of coronary artery stenosis assessed by multidetector-row computed tomography: the Korean Atherosclerosis Study 2.
Pericardial fat surrounding the heart and coronary arteries might aggravate vessel wall inflammation and stimulate the progression of coronary atherosclerosis. However, there has been little comprehensive evaluation of the effects of pericardial fat on coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated the relationship between pericardial fat volume and the severity of coronary artery stenosis assessed by computed tomography and angiography among patients with suspected CAD. Participants from the cohort of the Korean Atherosclerosis Study 2 (n = 402, mean age of 54 years, 57.0% men) underwent 64-slice multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) to assess pericardial fat amount, coronary artery calcium score (CACS), severity of coronary artery stenosis, and plaque characteristics. Patients with atherosclerotic lesion had significantly larger volume of pericardial fat than patients without atherosclerosis (308 ± 96 cm(3) vs. 251 ± 93 cm(3); P < 0.01). In a multivariate regression analysis adjusting for age, gender and BMI, subjects with more pericardial fat had a higher risk for significant (>50%) stenosed coronary vessels (odds ratio (OR) = 1.012; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.001-1.030; P = 0.017). This association remained after adjusting for hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, and lipid profiles (OR = 1.007; 95% CI 1.001-1.014; P = 0.042). In conclusion, an increased pericardial fat volume was an independent risk factor for stenotic CAD and could be helpful in assessing subclinical CADs.
Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Tae Hyuk
TH
Kim
Sung Hoon
SH
Yu
Sung Hee
SH
Choi
Ji Won
JW
Yoon
Seon Mee
SM
Kang
Eun Ju
EJ
Chun
Sang Il
SI
Choi
Hayley
H
Shin
Hong Kyu
HK
Lee
Kyong Soo
KS
Park
Hak Chul
HC
Jang
Soo
S
Lim
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D056128:Obesity, Abdominal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index