Higher pericardial adipose tissue was significantly associated with coronary artery calcification (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.10-1.64; P<0.004) independent of visceral adipose tissue.
Cross-Sectional (n=1,414)
Pericardial adipose tissue is independently associated with coronary artery calcification in African Americans, suggesting a localized pathogenic effect on the coronary vasculature beyond systemic visceral adiposity.
Odds Ratio: 1.34 (95% CI 1.1–1.64)
p-value: p=<0.004
OBJECTIVE: Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT), a regional fat depot that surrounds the heart, is associated with an unfavorable cardiometabolic risk factor profile. The associations among PAT, cardiometabolic risk factors, and coronary artery calcification (CAC) and abdominal aortic artery calcification (AAC) in African American populations have not been explored. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A total of 1,414 African Americans (35% men; mean +/- SD age 58 +/- 11 years) drawn from the Jackson Heart Study (JHS) underwent multidetector computed tomography assessment of abdominal visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and PAT between 2007 and 2009. Cardiometabolic risk factors, CAC, and AAC were examined in relation to increments of PAT and VAT. RESULTS: PAT was significantly correlated with BMI, waist circumference, and VAT (r = 0.35, 0.46, and 0.69; all P 0.05). However, the association of PAT with CAC but not with AAC remained significant (OR 1.34 95% CI 1.10-1.64; P < 0.004) after multivariable and VAT adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: PAT is significantly correlated with most cardiometabolic risk factors and CAC in the JHS cohort. The results suggest that PAT is an important VAT depot that may exert a local effect on the coronary vasculature.
Liu et al. (2010) conducted a cross-sectional in Cardiovascular disease risk factors and atherosclerosis (n=1,414). Pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) was evaluated on Coronary artery calcification (CAC) (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.10-1.64, p=<0.004). Higher pericardial adipose tissue was significantly associated with coronary artery calcification (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.10-1.64; P<0.004) independent of visceral adipose tissue.