Relation of epicardial fat thickness and brachial flow-mediated vasodilation with coronary artery disease

摘要

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence of a statistical association between epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and coronary artery disease (CAD) and between flow-mediated vasodilation (FMD) and CAD. Methods: We measured the EFT and FMD in 64 subjects with suspected stable angina pectoris. The patients were separated into two groups according to their coronary angiography results: 34 patients with CAD and 30 patients with normal coronary arteries (NCA). Results: EFT was significantly higher in the patients with CAD than the NCA group (6.43. ±. 0.90. mm vs. 5.35. ±. 0.75. mm, p<. 0.001) while FMD was significantly lower in the patients with CAD than those in the NCA group (6.41. ±. 2.51% vs. 8.33. ±. 3.45%, p= 0.015). No significant correlation was found between EFT and FMD. After adjustment for EFT, FMD, age, sex, ejection fraction, glucose, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol through multivariate logistic regression analysis, EFT (odds ratio: 6.325, 95% confidence interval 2.289-17.476, p<. 0.001) and age (odds ratio: 1.093, 95% confidence interval 1.008-1.185, p= 0.032) remained significant predictors of CAD. A cut-off value of EFT. ≥. 5.8. mm predicted the presence of CAD with 77% sensitivity and 70% specificity. Conclusion: An echocardiographic EFT assessment is independently associated with the presence of CAD. Thus, EFT may be helpful in cardiometabolic risk stratification and therapeutic interventions.