title: Increase in epicardial fat volume is associated with greater coronary artery calcification progression in subjects at intermediate risk by coronary calcium score: a serial study using non-contrast cardiac CT.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Epicardial fat volume (EFV) is related to calcified coronary plaques. However, it is unknown whether baseline EFV or changes in EFV affect the progression of coronary artery calcification over time.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified 375 consecutive asymptomatic subjects with an intermediate risk of developing coronary artery disease, who underwent serial non-contrast CT at least 3-5 years apart. Subjects were divided into tertiles of CCS progression (% increase) between the 2 scans. Subjects from the upper tertile (High Progressors) were matched by age and gender to 81 subjects from the lower tertile (Low Progressors). All subjects underwent serial measurements of CCS and EFV. Relationships between EFV and CCS progression, and change in plaque number were examined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At baseline, there was no difference in EFV, and EFV indexed to body surface area (EFVi) between the groups. At follow-up, EFV, EFVi and percent increase in EFVi-change were higher in High Progressors than Low Progressors (EFV, 102 ± 38 cm(3) vs. 90 ± 35 cm(3), p=0.03; EFVi, 50 ± 16cm(3)/m(2) vs. 46 ± 15 cm(3)/m(2), p=0.03; percent increase in EFVi-change, 15 ± 22% vs. 7 ± 20%, p=0.02). On multivariate analysis, after adjusting for conventional risk factors, EFVi increase ≥15% [odds ratio (OR) 2.3, p<0.05], log (baseline CCS) [OR 0.3, p<0.0001] and scan interval time [p=0.003, OR 1.0] were predictive of being a High Progressor. EFVi increase ≥ 15% (β=3.0, p=0.02) and hypertension (β=3.1, p=0.01) were independent predictors of number of new calcified plaques on follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increase in EFV is associated with greater progression of coronary artery calcification in intermediate-risk subjects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Imaging and Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Rine
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakanishi
authors.forename: Ronak
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rajani
authors.forename: Victor Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gransar
authors.forename: Ryo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nakazato
authors.forename: Haim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shmilovich
authors.forename: Yuka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Otaki
authors.forename: Sean W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Louise E J
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: John D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: Piotr J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Slomka
authors.forename: Daniel S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Berman
authors.forename: Damini
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dey
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D000368:Aged; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000473:pathology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000473:pathology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology*; D012306:Risk; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium