The association between atrium electromechanical interval and pericardial fat.
OBJECTIVE
Pericardial fat (PCF) may induce local inflammation and subsequent structural remodeling of the left atrium (LA). However, the adverse effects of PCF on LA are difficult to be evaluated and quantified. The atrial electromechanical interval determined by transthoracic echocardiogram was shown to be a convenient parameter which can reflect the process of LA remodeling. The goal of the present study was to investigate the association between the electromechanical interval and PCF.


RESULTS
A total of 337 patients with mean age of 51.9 ± 9.0 years were enrolled. The electromechanical interval (PA-PDI) defined as the time interval from the initiation of the P wave deflection to the peak of the mitral inflow A wave on the pulse wave Doppler imaging was measured for every patient. The amount of PCF was determined by multi-detector computed tomography. The PA-PDI interval was significantly correlated with the amount of PCF (r = 0.641, p value <0.001). Graded prolongation of PA-PDI interval was observed across 3 groups of patients divided according to the tertile values of PCF. The AUC for the PA-PDI interval in predicting an increased amount of PCF (third tertile) was 0.796. At a cutoff value of 130 ms identified by the ROC curve, the sensitivity and specificity of PA-PDI interval in identifying patients with a highest tertile of PCF were 63.4% and 85.3%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The PA-PDI intervals were longer in patients with an increased amount of PCF. It may be a useful parameter to represent the degree of PCF-related atrial remodeling.
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Tze-Fan
TF
Chao
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, and Mackay Medicine Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yau-Huei
YH
Lai
Division of Radiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chun-Ho
CH
Yun
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, and Mackay Medicine Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chih-Hsuan
CH
Yen
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Kang-Ling
KL
Wang
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yenn-Jiang
YJ
Lin
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shih-Lin
SL
Chang
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Li-Wei
LW
Lo
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yu-Feng
YF
Hu
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, and Mackay Medicine Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan.
Chung-Lieh
CL
Hung
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, and Mackay Medicine Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan.
Jen-Yuan
JY
Kuo
Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Mackay Medical College, and Mackay Medicine Nursing and Management College, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hung-I
HI
Yeh
Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, and Cardiovascular Research Center, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shih-Ann
SA
Chen
D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D012372:ROC Curve