title: Epiaortic fat pad area: A novel index for the dimensions of the ascending aorta.
abstract: We sought to investigate the possible association between the area of the epiaortic fat pad (EAFP) and dimensions of the ascending aorta. A total of 193 individuals underwent transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) prospectively. The area of the EAFP was traced anterior to the aortic root and correlated with the diameter of the aorta. The mean area of the EAFP was 5.16 ± 2.28 cm(2) Absolute and indexed dimensions of the ascending aorta had a significant correlation with the area of the EAFP (p <0.001 for all). In a multivariate linear regression model, age >65 (p <0.001), body mass index >30 kg/m(2) (p = 0.02) and a history of hyperlipidemia (p = 0.003) were identified as independent predictors of the area for EAFP. In conclusion, both the absolute and indexed diameters of the ascending aorta at the different segments that directly come into contact with the EAFP linearly correlate with the area of the EAFP measured by TTE.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Mehrnoush
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Toufan
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran Department of Anesthesiology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Leili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pourafkari
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Shabnam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boudagh
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, USA nnader@buffalo.edu.
authors.forename: Nader D
authors.initials: ND
authors.lastname: Nader
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001011:Aorta / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015992:Body Mass Index; D001830:Body Surface Area; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006949:Hyperlipidemias / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol
keywords: epiaortic fat pad; thoracic aorta; transthoracic echocardiography