The ratio of epicardial to body fat improves the prediction of coronary artery disease beyond calcium and Framingham risk scores.
The association between epicardial fat and coronary artery disease (CAD) might be affected by general adiposity. We aimed to determine whether the percentage of epicardial adipose tissue (%EAT), defined as the mass ratio of epicardial fat to body fat, could improve prediction of asymptomatic CAD. We consecutively enrolled 846 adults who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography as part of a health check-up and assessed their coronary stenosis severity and epicardial fat mass. Body fat mass was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Subjects with CAD history, hyperthyroidism, pitting edema, or subjects taking diuretics or thiazolidinedione were excluded. Obstructive CAD was defined as at least one coronary artery with 50 % or greater obstruction, and severe CAD was defined as 70 % or greater obstruction. The %EAT had the maximum area under the curve for predicting the presence of CAD and superior discriminative performance to EAT and other EAT-indexed parameters. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that %EAT >0.41 % was a predictor of obstructive CAD [odds ratio 3.59 (95 % confidence interval 2.28-5.64)], and %EAT >0.47 % was a predictor of severe CAD [4.01 (2.01-7.99)] after adjustment for calcium score and Framingham risk score. This prediction was more pronounced in subjects with higher body fat percentage (≥25 % for men and ≥35 % for women), Framingham risk score (≥10 %), or calcium score (≥100). A spillover of body fat at epicardium over a critical threshold is associated with significant coronary stenosis. This association was independent of obesity, coronary calcium burden, and Framingham risk factors.
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Bai-Chin
BC
Lee
Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Radiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital Hsin-Chu Branch, Hsinchu, Taiwan.
Wen-Jeng
http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3267-4811
WJ
Lee
Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Shyh-Chyi
SC
Lo
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.
Hsiu-Ching
HC
Hsu
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan.|Institute of Preventive Medicine, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
Kuo-Liong
KL
Chien
Department of Medical Imaging, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.|Department of Radiology, National Taiwan University College of Medicine, Taipei, Taiwan.
Yeun-Chung
YC
Chang
Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and National Taiwan University College of Medicine, 7 Chung-Shan South Road, Taipei, Taiwan. mfchen@ntu.edu.tw.|China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. mfchen@ntu.edu.tw.
Ming-Fong
MF
Chen
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000503:physiopathology*; D050154:Adiposity; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019540:Area Under Curve; D058070:Asymptomatic Diseases; D000072226:Computed Tomography Angiography; D017023:Coronary Angiography / Q000379:methods; D003324:Coronary Artery Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D017097:Electric Impedance; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D061330:Multidetector Computed Tomography; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010496:Pericardium / Q000503:physiopathology*; D058226:Plaque, Atherosclerotic; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012372:ROC Curve; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D061205:Vascular Calcification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology
Body fat; Calcium score; Coronary artery disease; Coronary computed tomography angiography; Epicardial adipose tissue