Peri-Coronary Epicardial Adipose Tissue Relation to Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Coronary Artery Calcification in Post-Menopausal Women

Abstract

he present study showed a significant correlation between peri-coronary epicardial adipose tissue and coronary artery calcification, as well as coronary artery atherosclerotic lesions. It also shows significant correlation between pericoronary EAT and some cardiovascular risk factors, as dyslipidemia, however, there was no significant correlation with other risk factors like hypertension, diabetes, age, and smoking. CAC score was significantly related to all cardiovascular risk factors and also to the extent and number of atherosclerotic coronary artery lesions. Patients in whom CAD was confirmed by MDCT had significantly more EAT than patients without CAD. Also, patients with high CAC had significantly more EAT than patients with a lower score. Future studies are needed for verifying the relation between peri-coronary EAT, CAC score and cardiovascular risk factors, and to find a reliable standard technique for measuring the EAT.