title: Increased pericardial adipose tissue is correlated with atrial fibrillation and left atrial dilatation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT), a visceral fat depot surrounding the heart, serves as an endocrine active organ and is associated with inflammation. There is growing evidence that atrial fibrillation (AF) is linked with inflammation, which in turn can be a promoter of left atrial remodeling. The aim of this study was to evaluate a potential correlation of PAT to AF and left atrial structural remodeling represented by LA size.
  
  
  METHODS
  PAT was measured in 1,288 patients who underwent coronary artery calcium-scanning for coronary risk stratification. LA size was determined by two independent readers. Patients were subdivided into patients without AF, patients with paroxysmal and persistent AF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PAT was independently correlated with AF, persistent AF, and LA size (all p values <0.001). No association could be observed between paroxysmal AF and PAT. These associations persisted after multivariate adjustment for AF risk factors such as age, hypertension, valvular disease, heart failure, and body mass index (AF: OR 1.52, 95 % CI 1.15-2.00, p = 0.003; persistent AF: OR 2.58, 95 % CI 1.69-3.99, p = 0.001; LA size: regression coefficient 0.15 with 95 % CI 0.10-0.20, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PAT is associated with AF, in particular with persistent AF and LA size. These findings suggest that PAT could be an independent risk factor for the development of AF and for LA remodeling.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Klinikum Grosshadern, University Hospital of Munich, Marchioninistrasse 15, 81377, Munich, Germany. martin.greif@med.uni-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Greif
authors.forename: Franz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: von Ziegler
authors.forename: Reza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wakili
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tittus
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Helbig
authors.forename: Ruediger P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Laubender
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schwarz
authors.forename: Melvin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: D'Anastasi
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schenzle
authors.forename: Alexander W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Leber
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Becker
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000473:pathology*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D064752:Atrial Remodeling; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult