Correlation of Epicardial Fat Thickness With the Severity of Coronary Artery Disease

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the correlation between epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: In this cross-sectional observational study, conducted at a tertiary care hospital in India, echocardiographic EFT measurements were correlated with CAD severity using the Gensini score from coronary angiography in fifty patients. Participants included were those undergoing percutaneous coronary angiography with suspected CAD, aged above 18 and without significant comorbidities. RESULTS: The study found a significant correlation between increased EFT and the severity of CAD. The mean EFT was 5.24 mm in CAD patients compared to 2.94 mm in non-CAD patients (p < 0.001). EFT was significantly higher in patients with triple vessel disease (6.25 mm) compared to those with normal angiography results (2.94 mm) (p < 0.001). Additionally, EFT positively correlated with the Gensini score (Pearson correlation coefficient: 0.697, p < 0.001). Among the risk factors, diabetes showed a significant association with increased EFT. CONCLUSION: EFT serves as a promising non-invasive biomarker for CAD severity. The strong association between EFT and CAD severity, especially in males and older adults, emphasizes the importance of targeted screening and preventive strategies. Future studies should validate these findings to support EFT integration into clinical practice for early CAD risk assessment.