Association of epicardial and abdominal visceral adipose tissue with coronary atherosclerosis in patients with a coronary artery calcium score of zero.
BACKGROUND
We sought to examine whether epicardial and abdominal visceral adipose tissue distribution is associated with coronary atherosclerosis in patients with a coronary artery calcium (CAC) score of zero, assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA).


RESULTS
We studied 352 patients with suspected coronary artery disease (mean age 61±11 years, 57% male) with a CAC score of zero who had undergone CCTA. Non-calcified coronary plaques (NCPs) were detected in 102 patients (29%); those causing ≥50% stenosis were found in 15 patients (4%). Patients were divided into 4 groups on the basis of CT-based epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume and abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) area using the sex-specific median value. Multivariate analysis showed that the adjusted odds ratios for the presence of NCPs in the high VAT area/low EAT volume group, and the high VAT area/high EAT volume group were 2.80 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.25-6.35, P=0.01) and 2.68 (95% CI: 1.36-5.45, P=0.004), respectively. Interestingly, the low VAT area/high EAT volume group showed an equivalent adjusted odds ratio of 3.02 (95% CI: 1.33-6.90, P=0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
EAT volume is eligible as a marker to be evaluated in addition to VAT area in patients with a CAC score of zero.
Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences.
Hiroshi
H
Tsushima
Hideya
H
Yamamoto
Toshiro
T
Kitagawa
Yoji
Y
Urabe
Fuminari
F
Tatsugami
Kazuo
K
Awai
Yasuki
Y
Kihara
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism
D015415:Biomarkers; D002118:Calcium