Article

The radiodensity of epicardial adipose tissue may provide information
on cardiovascular risk in addition to epicardial adipose tissue volume. The aim
of this study was to quantify the relation between cardiovascular risk factors
and the radiodensity of epicardial adipose tissue in patients at high risk of
cardiovascular disease. Design This was a cross-sectional study in 140 patients
at high risk of cardiovascular disease. Methods Patients from the Secondary
Manifestations of ARTerial disease (SMART) cohort study were invited to undergo
cardiac computed tomography angiography. The radiodensity (in Hounsfield units;
HU) and volume (in cm3) of epicardial adipose tissue were quantified
semi-automatically. Multivariable linear regression was used to quantify the
relation between cardiovascular risk factors and the radiodensity of epicardial
adipose tissue. Results The cardiovascular risk factors most strongly associated
with epicardial adipose tissue density were sex, body mass index and visceral
fat, with a lower adipose tissue attenuation of 3.5 HU (95% confidence interval
(CI) 2.0-5.0 HU) for female sex, 1.6 HU (95%CI 0.2-2.9 HU) for body mass index
>25 kg/m2 and 1.3 HU (95% CI 0.6-2.0 HU) for a one standard deviation higher
quantity of visceral fat, adjusted for age, sex, coronary artery bypass graft
history and epicardial adipose tissue volume. Conclusion Low epicardial adipose
tissue computed tomography attenuation is associated with an adverse
cardiovascular risk factor profile in patients at high risk of cardiovascular
disease, independent of the volume of epicardial adipose tissue and waist
circumference. These findings support the potential role for epicardial adipose
tissue radiodensity as a valid biomarker of cardiovascular risk. Adipose tissue
radiodensity may be a more sensitive marker than epicardial adipose tissue volume
with which to study the contribution of epicardial adipose tissue to the coronary
atheromatous disease process.

Langue : ANGLAIS