title: Epicardial fat thickness, an emerging cardiometabolic risk factor, is increased in young adults born preterm.
abstract: Preterm birth and epicardial fat thickness (EFT) constitute novel risk factors for the onset of future adverse cardiovascular events. In total, 30 ex-extremely low birth weight (ex-ELBW) subjects (10 males, 20 females, aged 17-28) were enrolled and compared with 30 healthy peers. EFT was significantly higher (8.7±0.7 mm v. 5.6±0.9 mm; P<0.001) in ex-ELBW than in controls and was correlated with birth weight (r=-0.47, P=0.0009), gestational age (r=-0.39, P=0.03) and cardiac left ventricular mass (r=0.51, P=0.004). When excluding the influence of body mass index, birth weight was the sole remaining determinant of EFT, irrespective of gestational age (r=-0.37, P=0.04). The same findings when excluding the possible influence of blood pressure values on the cardiac structures (r=-0.40, P=0.028). In conclusion, EFT is significantly higher in former preterm subjects and is likewise associated with an increase in left ventricular mass. In view of the acknowledged correlation between the latter and an increased incidence of cardiovascular diseases, EFT appears to be an easy-to-measure tool capable of predicting the likely development of future adverse cardiovascular events in these subjects.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Sciences 'M. Aresu',University of Cagliari,Cagliari,Italy.
authors.forename: P P
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Bassareo
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Medicine,Section of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,University of Cagliari,Cagliari,Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Fanos
authors.affiliation: 2Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Medicine,Section of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,University of Cagliari,Cagliari,Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puddu
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Sciences 'M. Aresu',University of Cagliari,Cagliari,Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Marras
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Medical Sciences 'M. Aresu',University of Cagliari,Cagliari,Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mercuro
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001724:Birth Weight; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D056149:Epicardial Mapping; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D010496:Pericardium / Q000473:pathology*; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cardiovascular risk; epicardial fat thickness; prematurity at birth; prognosis