Epicardial Fat Tissue Predicts Increased Long-Term Major Adverse Cardiac Event in Patients With Moderate Cardiovascular Risk

Abstract

We investigated the relationship between epicardial fat volume (EFV) measured by multislice computed tomography (MDCT) and long-term major adverse cardiac events (MACEs). Consecutive patients (n = 564) were enrolled in this retrospective study. Patients were divided into tertiles according to EFV. Patients were followed up for an average of 18 months. Patients in each tertile were similar in terms of gender and risk factors. Patients with greater EFV in the third group were more likely to be overweight (P = .001) and older (P = .001). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were relatively lower in the third tertile (45 ± 9, 45 ± 11, and 43 ± 9 mg/dL, respectively; P = .018). The third group had a significantly higher rate of myocardial infarction (0.6%, 1.1%, and 3.7%, respectively; P = .043). The incidence of MACEs during the follow-up period was highest in the third group 15.9% (4.1%, 7.7%, and 15.9%, respectively; P = .001). Epicardial fat volume measured by MDCT was associated with increased long-term cardiovascular risk.