Increased epicardial adipose tissue thickness is associated with microalbuminuria in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy

ABSTRACT

Objective

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a cardiometabolic risk factor, and its possible relationship with hypertension has been previously reported. Microalbuminuria (MA) is associated with target-organ damage, especially in patients with hypertension with left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and suggest endothelial dysfunction. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between echocardiographic EAT thickness and presence of MA in patients with hypertension.

Methods

A total of 297 newly diagnosed hypertension patients who applied to the outpatient clinic were enrolled consecutively in this study. Patients were divided into two groups regarding the presence of LVH in echocardiography. An age and gender matched control group was set including 156 healthy patients without HT. All subjects underwent transthoracic echocardiography for the measurement of EAT thickness. Spot urine samples were collected for the assessment of MA.

Results

In hypertensive patients with LVH, the EAT thicknesses (6.6 ± 1.8 vs 5.3 ± 1.5 vs 5.1 ± 1.3, p < .001; respectively) and prevalence of MA (41.2 vs 20.1 vs 3.2%; p < .001 respectively) were significantly higher than the other two groups. In hypertensive patiens without LVH, no relationship was found between the presence of MA and EAT thickness. In multivariate regression analyses, EAT thickness (OR: 3.141, 95%CI: 2.425–6.123, p < .001) and left ventricular mass index (OR: 1.339, 95%CI: 1.145–2.143, p = .003) were determined as independent predictors for MA development in hypertensive patients with LVH.

Conclusion

Measurement of EAT thickness may help to identify high-risk hypertensive patients for target-organ damage especially among patients with LVH.

KEYWORDS:

• Echocardiography
• epicardial adipose tissue
• hypertension
• left ventricular hypertrophy
• microalbuminuria

Acknowledgments

None

Author contributions

All authors contributed to the conception of the work and drafted the manuscript. All authors critically revised the manuscript. All gave final approval and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of work ensuring integrity and accuracy.

Disclosure statement

There are no conflicts of interest.

Statement of ethics

The study protocol was approved by the hospital’s local ethics committee (Number: 17073117-050.06) in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki and Good Clinical Practice Guidelines. Written informed consent was taken from all patients.

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and publication of this article.