title: Comparison of epicardial fat volume by computed tomography in black versus white patients with acute chest pain.
abstract: Disparities in the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) between races may be influenced by differences in the thoracic adipose tissue. We compared computed tomography (CT)-derived volumes of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), mediastinal adipose tissue (MAT), and pericoronary fat thickness (PFT) and correlations with CAD between black and white patients. This institutional review board-approved Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act-compliant study included 372 age- and gender-matched black versus white patients (186 black, 54 ± 11 years, 50% men; 186 white, 54 ± 11 years, 50% men) who underwent CT for chest pain evaluation. EAT, MAT, and PFT were measured. The amount of coronary calcium was quantified as calcium score. CAD was defined as ≥50% coronary artery narrowing. EAT and MAT volumes were significantly lower in black than white patients (59 [twenty-fifth to seventy-fifth percentile 39 to 84] vs 97 [67 to 132] cm(3) and 44 [27 to 77] vs 87 [52 to 157] cm(3), for both p <0.001). Mean PFT in black patients was slightly lower than white patients (17.2 ± 3.2 vs 18.1 ± 3.4 mm, p <0.01). The relation between race and extent of adipose tissue remained significant after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Significant correlations were observed between EAT and MAT volumes and calcium score in black and white patients (r = 0.19 to 0.26, p <0.01). For both races, the level of thoracic fat measurements was higher in present versus absent coronary calcification. A greater amount of thoracic fat was found with obstructive CAD only in white patients. In conclusion, CT-derived measurements of thoracic fat differ between symptomatic black and white patients, suggesting a differential relation between thoracic adipose tissue and CAD pathophysiology by race.
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Paul
authors: P
authors: Apfaltrer
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors: Andreas
authors: A
authors: Schindler
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina. Electronic address: schoepf@musc.edu.
authors: U Joseph
authors: UJ
authors: Schoepf
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland.
authors: John W
authors: JW
authors: Nance
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Bioimaging and Radiological Sciences, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, "A. Gemelli" Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Tricarico
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Cardiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Heart Center Munich-Bogenhausen, Munich, Germany.
authors: Ullrich
authors: U
authors: Ebersberger
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina.
authors: Andrew D
authors: AD
authors: McQuiston
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Mathias
authors: M
authors: Meyer
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Henzler
authors: Institute of Clinical Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors: Stefan O
authors: SO
authors: Schoenberg
authors: Institute of Clinical Radiology, University of Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors: Fabian
authors: F
authors: Bamberg
authors: Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, South Carolina; Department of Radiology, Center for Medical Imaging-North East Netherlands, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors: Rozemarijn
authors: R
authors: Vliegenthart
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001741:Black or African American; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People