Impact of weight loss on epicardial adipose tissue after laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy: a CT-based quantitative analysis using ITK-SNAP.

BACKGROUND

Bariatric surgery is an effective method for weight reduction, and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a recognized marker of cardiovascular disease risk. However, the impact of weight loss on EAT and the correlation between reduced body weight and changes in EAT remain unclear.

OBJECTIVE

This study examines the impact of weight loss following laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) on EAT volume and its correlation with body mass index (BMI) reduction.

SETTING

This study was conducted at 2 hospitals in China: the Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University and Shanghai 10th People's hospital.

METHOD

Consecutive patients who underwent LSG were screened for inclusion between August 2016 and December 2024. EAT parameters were assessed both preoperatively and 12 months postsurgery using the ITK-SNAP CT imaging technique. Additionally, indicators of cardiac structure and function were collected.

RESULTS

A total of 88 patients were included. After 12 months, significant reductions were observed in EAT volume (402.73 ± 52.80 ml to 372.14 ± 51.70 ml, P < .001), left atrial diameter (LAD; 37.66 ± 3.70 mm to 35.03 ± 3.65 mm, P < .001), interventricular septum thickness (IVS; 10.18 ± .94 mm to 9.52 ± .88 mm, P < .001), and left ventricular mass (LVmass; 262.27 ± 59.59 g to 235.55 ± 47.99 g, P < .001). No significant changes were observed in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF; 64.43 ± 5.00% to 65.35 ± 3.03%, P = .084). Moreover, changes in BMI were positively correlated with changes in EAT (r = .509, P < .001), LAD (r = .219, P = .040), and IVS (r = .262, P = .014).

CONCLUSION

Significant improvement in EAT and cardiac structural remodeling occurs after LSG surgery, which strongly correlates with BMI reduction. EAT serves as a novel mediator in the relationship between obesity and cardiovascular disease, and bariatric surgery has the potential to mitigate cardiovascular risk by targeting this therapeutic focus.