Original investigation
Gender disparities in the association between epicardial adipose tissue volume and coronary atherosclerosis: A 3-dimensional cardiac computed tomography imaging study in Japanese subjects
1 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, The University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences, Tokushima, Japan
2 Department of Cardio-Diabetes Medicine, The University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences, Tokushima, Japan
3 Department of Radiologic Science and Technology, The University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences, Tokushima, Japan
4 Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences, Tokushima, Japan
5 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kawashima Hospital, Tokushima, Japan
6 Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and Department of Cardio-Diabetes Medicine, The University of Tokushima Graduate School of Health Biosciences, 3-18-15 Kuramoto, Tokushima, 770-8503, Japan
Cardiovascular Diabetology 2012, 11:106 doi:10.1186/1475-2840-11-106
Published: 10 September 2012Abstract
Background
Growing evidence suggests that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) may contribute to the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, we explored gender disparities in EAT volume (EATV) and its impact on coronary atherosclerosis.
Methods
The study population consisted of 90 consecutive subjects (age: 63 ± 12 years; men: 47, women: 43) who underwent 256-slice multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) coronary angiography. EATV was measured as the sum of cross-sectional epicardial fat area on CT images, from the lower surface of the left pulmonary artery origin to the apex. Subjects were segregated into the CAD group (coronary luminal narrowing > 50%) and non-CAD group.
Results
EATV/body surface area (BSA) was higher among men in the CAD group than in the non-CAD group (62 ± 13 vs. 33 ± 10 cm3/m2, p < 0.0001), but did not differ significantly among women in the 2 groups (49 ± 18 vs. 42 ± 9 cm3/m2, not significant). Multivariate logistic analysis showed that EATV/BSA was the single predictor for >50% coronary luminal narrowing in men (p < 0.0001). Predictors excluded were age, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia.
Conclusions
Increased EATV is strongly associated with coronary atherosclerosis in men.
