Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Coronary Artery Plaque Characteristics

Key Points

• To explore the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue and the characteristics of coronary artery plaques.
• Randomized trial design
• Assessment of epicardial adipose tissue using imaging techniques
• Analysis of plaque characteristics through invasive coronary angiography.
• Higher epicardial adipose tissue volume associated with increased plaque burden (adjusted OR 2.5, 95% CI 1.7-3.6, p<0.001).
• Findings reveal greater inflammatory markers within plaques correlated with significant epicardial fat accumulation.
• Risk of unstable plaque phenotype increases by 40% with elevated epicardial adipose tissue.