title: Epicardial fat: an additional measurement for subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk stratification?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The value of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness as determined by echocardiography in cardiovascular risk assessment is not well understood. The aim of this study was to determine the associations between EAT thickness and Framingham risk score, carotid intima media thickness, carotid artery plaque, and computed tomographic coronary calcium score in a primary prevention population.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting for cardiovascular preventive care (n = 356) who underwent echocardiography as well as carotid artery ultrasound and/or coronary calcium scoring were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  EAT thickness was weakly correlated with Framingham risk score. The prevalence of carotid plaque was significantly greater in those with EAT thickness ≥ 5.0 mm who either had low Framingham risk scores or had body mass indexes ≥ 25 kg/m(2), compared with those with EAT thickness <5.0 mm. No significant association between EAT thickness and carotid intima-media thickness or coronary calcium score existed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EAT thickness ≥ 5.0 mm may identify an individual with a higher likelihood of having detectable carotid atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA. nelson.matthew2@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Matthew R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Farouk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Mookadam
authors.forename: Venkata
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Thota
authors.forename: Usha
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Emani
authors.forename: Mohsen
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Al Harthi
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Lester
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stepanek
authors.forename: R Todd
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Hurst
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001130:Arizona / Q000453:epidemiology; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004452:Echocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity