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August 19, 2026Anais Brasileiros de DermatologiaOpen Access

Vitiligo is linked to increased epicardial fat thickness and adverse atherogenic indices compared to healthy controls.

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Why the study?

Systemic metabolic and cardiovascular alterations have been reported in vitiligo, but epicardial fat thickness and echocardiographic structural changes remain understudied.

Is vitiligo associated with increased epicardial fat thickness and adverse atherogenic lipid indices compared to healthy controls?

Population

90 adults with vitiligo and 90 matched controls

Comparison

Adults with vitiligo vs matched healthy controls

Design

Case-control study

Key result

Vitiligo was independently associated with increased mean epicardial fat thickness (B = 0.82, p = 0.003) and adverse triglyceride-related atherogenic indices compared to healthy controls.

Authors

MEMustafa EsenADAbdullah DemirbaşEDEsin Diremsizoğlu

Discussion

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Overview

May warrant EFT screening in vitiligo; leaves open causal ties to severity or progression.

Key Points

  • To compare epicardial fat thickness and echocardiographic structural parameters between adults with vitiligo and healthy controls, and evaluate their relationships with disease severity.
  • Conducted a case–control study with 90 adults with vitiligo and 90 matched controls.
  • Performed standardized multi-window transthoracic echocardiography to measure epicardial fat thickness (parasternal, apical, subcostal) alongside lipid indices.
  • Analyzed associations using Spearman correlations, multivariable linear regression adjusted for confounders (including age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, LDL, fibrinogen, and CRP), and ROC analysis.
  • Vitiligo patients had significantly higher epicardial fat thickness across all echocardiographic windows (p <= 0.002) and larger left atrial and ascending aorta diameters (p <= 0.010).
  • Vitiligo independently predicted mean epicardial fat thickness (B = 0.82, p = 0.003) and aortic valve gradient (B = 1.13, p = 0.019) in multivariable models.
  • Disease severity (VASI/BSA) correlated strongly with triglycerides, VLDL, TG/HDL ratio, and atherogenic index of plasma (r = 0.574 to 0.681, all p < 0.001), with the most adverse profiles observed in the acrofacial phenotype.

Study Design

Type

Case-Control (n=180)

Structured PICO

Is vitiligo associated with increased epicardial fat thickness and adverse atherogenic lipid indices compared to healthy controls?

P
Population
180 adults, comprising 90 with vitiligo and 90 matched healthy controls, evaluated for epicardial fat thickness and echocardiographic structural changes.
E
Exposure
Vitiligo (disease exposure)
C
Comparator
Matched healthy controls
O
Outcome
Epicardial Fat Thickness (EFT) and echocardiographic structural changessurrogate

Main Result

Effect estimate: B = 0.82

p-value: p=0.003

Vitiligo is independently associated with increased epicardial fat thickness and adverse atherogenic lipid profiles, suggesting a higher subclinical cardiovascular risk in these patients.

Limitations

  • Comorbidity-based exclusion criteria limit generalizability
  • Systematic lifestyle data were unavailable

Cite This Study

Esen et al. (2026) conducted a case-control in Vitiligo (n=180). Vitiligo vs. Healthy controls was evaluated on Mean Epicardial Fat Thickness (EFT) (B = 0.82, p=0.003). Vitiligo was independently associated with increased mean epicardial fat thickness (B = 0.82, p = 0.003) and adverse triglyceride-related atherogenic indices compared to healthy controls.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a85639d03308d306e2d6dc8https://doi.org/10.1016/j.abd.2026.501428
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1Markers of Metabolic Abnormalities in Vitiligo Patients2024 · 23 citations
  2. 2Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome in Vitiligo Patients and its Relation to Vitiligo Severity – A Cross-Sectional Study2024 · 9 citations
  3. 3Association of epicardial adipose tissue thickness and left ventricular functions in children with primary dyslipidemia2026
  4. 4Epicardial fat and its association with cardiovascular risk: A cross-sectional observational study2010 · 81 citations
  5. 5Increased epicardial fat tissue is a marker of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriasis2013 · 45 citations