Epicardial and periaortic fat characteristics in ischemic stroke: Relationship with stroke etiology and calcification burden

[Display omitted] •Epicardial and periaortic fat volume were similar between stroke etiologies.•Cardioembolic strokes had higher periaortic fat attenuation.•Despite similar volume, demised patients had higher fat attenuation. We explored epicardial (EAT) and periaortic (PAT) adipose tissue characteristics in patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), and the relationship with stroke etiology, calcification burden, and inflammation. We included a retrospective cohort of consecutive patients admitted with AIS between 2015 and 2020 who underwent a chest computed tomography. We calculated volumes and attenuation of EAT and PAT, and coronary artery (CAC), and thoracic aortic (TAC) calcification. Admission’s neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio (NLR) was recorded. Stroke severity was assessed using the National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and patients were discriminated between cardioembolic (CE), non-CE, and embolic strokes of uncertain source (ESUS). A total of 182 patients were included. EAT (non-CE 127.4 ± 47.1 cm3; CE 133.3 ± 56.7 cm3; ESUS 121.6 ± 63.5 cm3, p > 0.05) and PAT (non-CE 37.4 ± 18.6 cm3; CE 40.4 ± 17.2 cm3; ESUS 34.5 ± 14.1 cm3, p > 0.05) volumes were similar between stroke etiologies. Patients with CE stroke had higher PAT attenuation (PAT = non-CE −84.4 ± 7.0 HU; CE −78.1 ± 9.9 HU; ESUS −82.3 ± 9.3 HU, p