Epicardial fat thickness is associated to type 2 diabetes mellitus in Korean men: a cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
Visceral fat, including epicardial fat (EF) is recognized as a responsible factor of cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between EF and diabetes in Korean men.


METHODS
EF thickness was measured in the left main coronary artery fat tissue (LMCA-fat) by low-dose chest CT scans in 1,048 Korean men (age above 20 years). LMCA-fat values were divided into quartiles and the prevalence of diabetes was analyzed based on the quartiles of LMCA-fat values using logistic regression.


RESULTS
There were significant correlations between LMCA-fat and body mass index (r = 0.169, p = 0.004), waist circumference (r = 0.172, p < 0.001), fasting glucose (r = 0.106, p = 0.037) and HbA1c (r = 0.176, p < 0.001). The patients in the higher LMCA-fat quartiles were associated with higher prevalence of diabetes (p for trend <0.001). Even after adjustment for multiple covariates, this association still remained statistically significant (p for trend = 0.022). The highest LMCA-fat quartile group was significantly associated with diabetes compared to the lowest quartile group. (OR = 3.26, 95% CI = 1.17-9.12).


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that increased EF thickness is independently associated with the prevalence of diabetes in Korean men.
Health Promotion Center, Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 158-710, South Korea. vitjin@hanmail.net.
Hyejin
H
Chun
Department of Family Medicine, Chaum Hospital, CHA University, 4-1, Cheongdam-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, 135-948, South Korea. sherby@naver.com.
Eunkyung
E
Suh
Departments of Family Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, 1071, Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 158-710, South Korea. perkal@hanmail.net.
A Ri
AR
Byun
Departments of Family Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, 1071, Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 158-710, South Korea. pullip840@gmail.com.
Hae Ran
HR
Park
Departments of Family Medicine, Ewha Womans University Mokdong hospital, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, 1071, Anyangcheon-ro, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, 158-710, South Korea. fmewha@naver.com.
Kyung Won
KW
Shim
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology*; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D055105:Waist Circumference