Measuring the amount of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) can be a novel parameter that is inexpensive and easy to obtain and may be helpful in cardiovascular risk stratification. However, the relationship between epicardial fat and cardiac function and that between epicardial fat and cardiac risk factors is less well described.
Visceral adiposity is a marker of increased risk but not readily assessed and may be costly to measure. Epicardial fat thickness is associated with cardiac morphologic abnormalities on echocardiography. This may be a more sensitive assessment of body fat distribution. It is easily available at echocardiography and simple to acquire at no added cost and training. However standardization of measurement and sensitivity of epicardial fat thickness in predicting CV risk are needed. Comparison of this simple and inexpensive measure with waist-hip ratio, BMI, Dexa scan of visceral fat, and MRI of visceral fat are needed.
The topic is worth investigating.
With echocardiography the epicardial fat thickness can be easily quantified in a reproducible manner.
Establishing a cut off value for predicting metabolic syndrome and coronary arterial disease may need a triad study involving epicardial, visceral and subcutaneous adipose tissue and then correlating them individually with certain biomarkers, in a longitudinal study.
This triad study will involve 2D or 3D ultrasound for visceral and subcutaneous adiposity and echocardiography for epicardial adiposity. It would be reasonable to do it that way to be sure of the best predictor for metabolic syndrome and coronary artery disease.
We did a little work on visceral adipose tissue quantification with ultrasound which will still be developed in future.
The link below may be helpful.
Thank you.
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