Efficacy of cardiometabolic drugs in reduction of epicardial adipose tissue: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Fig. 1. Prisma Flow Chart. The flow chart represents the number of studies evaluated according to PRISMA guidelines

Fig. 2. Forest plots of the cardiometabolic drug effect on the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) reduction, assessed by ultrasound, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging. EAT reduction was evaluated with the standardized difference in means (SMD) between baseline and follow-up. The diamond represents the estimated overall effect, while the squares represent each study with 95% CI

Fig. 3. Forest plots the effect of cardiometabolic drug on the epicardial adipose tissue thickness reduction assessed by ultrasound. EAT thickness reduction was evaluated with the standardized difference in means (SMD) between baseline and follow-up. The diamond represents the estimated overall effect, while the squares represent each study with 95% CI

Fig. 4. Forest plots the effect of cardiometabolic drug on the epicardial adipose tissue thickening at 3- and 6-months follow-up. EAT thickness reduction was evaluated with the standardized difference in means (SMD) between 3 and 6 months of follow-up. The diamond represents the estimated overall effect, while the squares represent each study with 95% CI

Fig. 5. Meta-regression analysis. Impact of age on the difference in composite cardiometabolic drugs effect and EAT reduction (A), and cardiometabolic drugs effect and EAT thickness reduction measured ultrasound (B). Impact of BMI on the difference in composite cardiometabolic drugs effect and EAT reduction (C), and cardiometabolic drugs effect and EAT thickness reduction measured ultrasound (D)