EAT Thickness as a Predominant Feature for Evaluating Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction

Abstract

Objective

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is an intricacy heterogeneous syndrome. However, the association between EAT and arterial stiffness in HFpEF patients remains unknown.

Methods

A total of 102 patients were enrolled into the study, and brachial-ankle pulse-wave velocity (baPWV), epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and body composition were assessed. Linear regression analysis was carried out to model the relationship between variables (especially EAT thickness) and baPWV.

Results

The results showed that patients with the thicker EAT fat pad (≥3.55 mm) tended to have comorbidities of hypertension, coronary artery disease (CAD), diabetes and hyperlipidemia, also with a higher level of obesity, fasting blood glucose (FBG), glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG). The level of baPWV was higher in EAT ≥3.55 mm group than the other group. BaPWV was positively associated with EAT, age, heart rate, waist circumference, visceral fat area, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, CRP and FBG. After adjusting for EAT, age and visceral fat area, EAT thickness (β = 0.256, P = 0.009) and visceral fat area (β = 0.229, P = 0.036) significantly associated with baPWV.

Conclusion

The study assessed for the first time that the increased EAT thickness was closely related with baPWV in HFpEF patients, suggesting patients with the thicker EAT may be independently associated with arterial stiffness under the context of HFpEF.

Keywords:

• HFpEF
• epicardial adipose tissue
• baPWV
• artery stiffness

Data Sharing Statement

Data will be available from the corresponding author (email: [email protected]) upon reasonable request.

Acknowledgment

We would like to express our deeply thanks to the team of ultrasonography of the department of cardiovascular medicine in the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University.

Author Contributions

All authors made a significant contribution to the study, whether that is in the conception, acquisition of data, analysis, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; agreed on the journal to which the article will be submitted; and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Disclosure

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare in this work.

Additional information

Funding

Coauthor Z.D. was funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China, 81570212; Chongqing Health Commission, 2022MSXM028; Chongqing Returnees Stay and Create Fund 2020, Chongqing High-end Talent Fund. Coauthor G.L. was funded by China Cardiovascular Health Alliance-Access Research Fund (2021-CCA-ACCESS-130).