BACKGROUND

Compared with global cardiac adiposity, the local accumulation of fat surrounding coronary arteries might have a more direct impact on coronary artery disease (CAD). Here, we compared the local epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness and global cardiac adiposity volumes for predicting CAD.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 197 consecutive subjects underwent 320-slice multi-detector computed tomography coronary angiography and were segregated into CAD (≥1 coronary artery branch stenosis ≥50%) and non-CAD groups. EAT thickness was measured at the right coronary artery (EAT), the left anterior descending artery (EAT), and the left circumflex artery (EAT). Although EATand EATwere similar between the 2 groups, EATwas larger in the CAD group than in the non-CAD group (5.45±2.16 mm vs. 6.86±2.19 mm, P<0.001). EAT, after correcting for confounding factors, was strongly associated with CAD (r=0.276, P<0.001) and Gensini score (r=0.239, P<0.001). On multiple regression analysis, Framingham risk score combined with EATwas a strong predictor of CAD (adjusted R=0.121; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The local fat thickness surrounding the LAD is a simple and useful surrogate marker for estimating the presence, severity, and extent of CAD, independent of classical cardiovascular risk factors.