Left atrial epicardial adipose tissue is closely associated with left atrial appendage flow velocity in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation

Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) can play an important role in the occurrence and development of atrial fibrillation and stroke. In this study, we explored the relationship between left atrial epicardial adipose tissue (LA-EAT) and left atrial appendage flow velocity (LAA-FV) in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NV-AF). A total of 145 patients with NV-AF who underwent their first radiofrequency ablation were enrolled. They underwent left aortopulmonary vein computed tomography angiography (CTA) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) before AF ablation. Left atrial (LA) electroanatomical mapping was performed intraoperatively to assess left atrial voltage. Univariate regression analysis showed that LAA-FV was lower in patients with a low voltage zone (LAA-FV; 35.02 ± 10.78 cm/s vs. 50.60 ± 12.17 cm/s, P < 0.001). A multiple linear regression model showed that the left atrial low voltage zone (β = - 0.311 P < 0.001), LA-EAT volume (β = - 0.256 P < 0.001), left atrial appendage shape (β = - 0.216 P = 0.041), LAVI (β = - 0.153 P = 0.041), and type of atrial fibrillation (paroxysmal vs. persistence) (β = - 0.146 P < 0.048) were independent predictors of LAA-FV. In NV-AF patients, the increase in LA-EAT volume is related to the decrease in LAA-FV.