Impact of epicardial adipose tissue volume on hemodynamically significant coronary artery disease in Chinese patients with known or suspected coronary artery disease

BackgroundEpicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is directly related to coronary artery disease (CAD), but little is known about its role in hemodynamically significant CAD. Therefore, our goal is to explore the impact of EAT volume on hemodynamically significant CAD.MethodsPatients who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) and received coronary angiography within 30 days were retrospectively included. Measurements of EAT volume and coronary artery calcium score (CACs) were performed on a semi-automatic software based on CCTA images, while quantitative flow ratio (QFR) was automatically calculated by the AngioPlus system according to coronary angiographic images.ResultsThis study included 277 patients, 112 of whom had hemodynamically significant CAD and showed higher EAT volume. In multivariate analysis, EAT volume was independently and positively correlated with hemodynamically significant CAD [per standard deviation (SD) cm(3); odds ratio (OR), 2.78; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.86-4.15; P < 0.001], but negatively associated with QFR(min) (per SD cm(3); beta coefficient, -0.068; 95% CI, -0.109 to -0.027; P = 0.001) after adjustment for traditional risk factors and CACs. Receiver operating characteristics curve analysis demonstrated a significant improvement in predictive value for hemodynamically significant CAD with the addition of EAT volume to obstructive CAD alone (area under the curve, 0.950 vs. 0.891; P < 0.001).ConclusionIn this study, we found that EAT volume correlated substantially and positively with the existence and severity of hemodynamically significant CAD in Chinese patients with known or suspected CAD, which was independent of traditional risk factors and CACs. In combination with obstructive CAD, EAT volume significantly improved diagnostic performance for hemodynamically significant CAD, suggesting that EAT could be a reliable noninvasive indicator of hemodynamically significant CAD.

Automated summary

This study found that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume is significantly associated with the presence and severity of cardiovascular disease in Chinese patients, independent of traditional risk factors and coronary artery calcium. When combined with obstructive coronary artery disease, EAT volume significantly improves the diagnostic performance for cardiovascular disease, suggesting that EAT could be a reliable noninvasive indicator of hemodynamically significant CAD.