Longitudinal changes in epicardial adipose tissue volume in patients with heart failure following a 6-week weight-loss diet intervention

Motivation: Elevated epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is associated with cardiovascular disease. Weight-loss diet interventions may aid in EAT reduction. Accurate determination of significant longitudinal changes requires knowledge of scan-scan repeatability. Goal(s): In this work, scan-scan repeatability of EAT volume from cardiac MRI was evaluated in young, healthy individuals. Then, EAT changes over a 6-week-period were assessed in patients with heart failure following a weight-loss diet. Approach: Healthy subjects underwent imaging twice within the same session; patients were imaged at baseline and 6 weeks. Results: The repeatability coefficient for EAT volume was 18%. Seven out of ten patients demonstrated changes above this threshold. Impact: Significant EAT volume changes greater than the repeatability coefficient were observed in patients with heart failure following a 6-week weight-loss diet. Cardiac MRI is sensitive in detecting changes in EAT volume that accompany weight loss induced by diet intervention.