title: Pericardial fat is associated with impaired lung function and a restrictive lung pattern in adults: the Jackson Heart Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Impaired lung function has been linked to obesity and systemic inflammation. Pericardial fat has been shown to be associated with anomalies in cardiac structure, function, and atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that pericardial fat may have a similar role in the impairment of lung function.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional associations of pericardial fat volumes, quantified by multidetector CT scan, with FEV(1) and FVC assessed by spirometry, were investigated in 1,293 participants (54.5 ± 10.8 years; 66.4% women) in the Jackson Heart Study. We also examined whether these associations were independent of visceral adipose tissue (VAT).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pericardial fat was associated with impaired lung function after multivariable adjustment, but these associations generally did not remain after adjustment for VAT. An exception was the FEV(1)/FVC ratio. Higher pericardial fat volumes were associated with higher odds of a restrictive lung pattern and lower odds of airway obstruction. Participants in the highest quartile had the highest odds of a restrictive lung pattern (OR, 1.85; 95% CI, 1.22-2.79, compared with quartile 1), even after adjustment for VAT. The odds of obstruction decreased across increasing quartiles of pericardial fat. These relationships were generally graded, suggesting dose-response trends.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pericardial fat is generally associated with lower lung function and independently associated with a restrictive lung pattern in middle-aged and elderly adults. Further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms through which pericardial fat contributes to pulmonary anomalies.
authors: Jackson Heart Study, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS; School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS. Electronic address: demarc.a.hickson@jsums.edu.
authors: DeMarc A
authors: DA
authors: Hickson
authors: School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS.
authors: Jiankang
authors: J
authors: Liu
authors: Cardiovascular Research Institute, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
authors: Aurelian
authors: A
authors: Bidulescu
authors: Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Cincinnati, OH.
authors: Cecil M
authors: CM
authors: Burchfiel
authors: Jackson Heart Study, Jackson State University, Jackson, MS; School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS.
authors: Herman A
authors: HA
authors: Taylor
authors: School of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS.
authors: Marcy F
authors: MF
authors: Petrini
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D016014:Linear Models; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013147:Spirometry / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods; D014797:Vital Capacity