Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

Title abbreviation: Adv Clin Exp Med
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ISSN 1899–5276 (print)
ISSN 2451-2680 (online)
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Advances in Clinical and Experimental Medicine

2019, vol. 28, nr 10, October, p. 1403–1408

doi: 10.17219/acem/104526

Publication type: original article

Language: English

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A new measurement site for echocardiographic epicardial adipose tissue thickness and its value in predicting metabolic syndrome

Meng Wang1,2,B,D, Liang Zhao1,3,C,D, Hao Liang4,B,C, Chunyuan Zhang5,B,E, Liying Guan6,E, Minglong Li1,A,F

1 Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China

2 Department of Endocrinology, Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, China

3 Second Department of Endocrinology, Central Hospital of Taian, China

4 Department of Ultrasonic Diagnosis and Treatment, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China

5 Health Management Center, Yidu Central Hospital of Weifang, China

6 Health Management Center, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, China

Abstract

Background. Echocardiographic epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness is defined as the thickness of the low-isoechoic area on the free wall of the right ventricle in the parasternal long-axis and short-axis views. Recent studies have suggested that it might support current risk stratification strategies in identifying an increased risk of metabolic syndrome.
Objectives. The aim of this study is to explore a new measurement site which can better reflect EAT thickness and to assess its value in predicting metabolic syndrome.
Material and Methods. A total of 975 Chinese adults were measured for EAT thickness on the right ventricular anterior free wall (EAT-rv) and on the anterior interventricular groove (EAT-ivg) with echocardiography. The correlation between EAT thickness and metabolic syndrome was analyzed, as was the agreement between epicardial adipose volume (EAV) and EAT thickness. Independent risk factors of EAT thickness were identified and the predictive value of EAT thickness was assessed.
Results. Epicardial adipose tissue thickness was higher in older participants and those with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, and metabolic syndrome, and it was lower in male participants. The EAT-ivg was higher in the participants with hypo-high-density-lipoprotein cholesterolemia than in those without the disorder, but the EAT-rv values were not statistically different. The kappa value was 0.524 between EAT-rv and EAV, and 0.783 between EAT-ivg and EAV. Advanced age, large waist circumference and female gender were independent risk factors of high EAT-ivg, while high-density-lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol was a protective factor. The EAT-ivg was associated with metabolic syndrome. The area under the curve of EAT-ivg applied in predicting metabolic syndrome was greater than that of EAT-rv (0.715 vs 0.648).
Conclusion. The EAT-ivg was more consistent with EAV than EAT-rv, was independently associated with metabolic syndrome and had a higher value in predicting metabolic syndrome than EAT-rv. Therefore, the anterior interventricular groove can serve as a new measurement site which better reflects EAT thickness.

Key words

metabolic syndrome, echocardiography, epicardial adipose tissue, consistency, predictive value

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