Prognostic value of epicardial fat thickness in coronary heart disease patients after myocardial revascularization

Objective To study the role of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in determination of risk for adverse course of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in patients after myocardial revascularization.Materials and Methods This study included 217 subjects, 182 IHD patients and 35 evaluated individuals without IHD. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was performed for 104 patients and coronary bypass (CB) was performed for 78 patients. Also echocardiography (EchoCG) and cardiac computed tomography were performed.Results In IHD patients, EAT volume and thickness were greater than in evaluated subjects without IHD. The composite endpoint (CEP) was observed after PCI more frequently than after CB. In IHD patients with an EAT thickness of 8.5 to 10.2 mm measured with EchoCG in the atrioventricular groove, the risk of CEP was 4.3 times higher after myocardial revascularization than with thicker or thinner EAT regardless of the revascularization method.Conclusion An EAT thickness of 8.5 to 10.2 mm in the atrioventricular groove as measured with EchoCG was associated with a risk of adverse IHD course in patients who have underwent myocardial revascularization.