European Journal of Heart Failure · 13 authors, 11 centres
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This prospective cohort study of 182 heart failure patients found that those with increased epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) had more obesity and proteomic markers of inflammation and metabolic dysfunction, but associations with coronary flow reserve were not significant.
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) was measured via echocardiography, with increased EAT defined as ≥9 mm. Patients with increased EAT (n=54) had higher body mass index and lower N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide levels. Increased EAT was associated with proteomic markers of adiposity, inflammation, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction. After adjustment for body mass index, EAT remained associated with left ventricular septal wall thickness and mitral E wave deceleration time. The authors conclude that increased EAT is linked to cardiac structural alterations and pathological proteomic profiles in HFpEF, but these associations are likely mediated by general obesity. Limitations include the use of echocardiography for EAT measurement, the correlative nature of the data preventing causal inference, and a lower representation of very obese patients.
