Relationship between Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and Atrial Electromechanical Delay in Hypertensive Patients

OBJECTIVES: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and atrial electromechanical delay (AEMD) have been shown to be closely linked with atrial fibrillation. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between EAT and AEMD. METHODS: Ninety-six patients were included in this study. Echocardiographic measurements were performed, and laboratory parameters were recorded. Patients were divided into two groups according to their inter-AEMD values. Patients with an inter-AEMD value of <42.6 msec formed group 1 and patients with an inter-AEMD value of ≥42.6 msec formed group 2. RESULTS: The EAT thickness (3.7 ± 1.2 vs. 5.0 ± 1.6, P < 0.001) and LAVI (20.4 ± 2.9 vs. 24.5 ± 6.7, P = 0.001) were significantly higher in group 2. There was a significant positive correlation between AEMD parameters with EAT and LAVI. After multivariate logistic regression analysis, EAT (OR: 1.505; 95% CI: 1.056-2.143, P = 0.023) and LAVI (OR: 1.140; 95% CI: 1.018-1.277, P = 0.023) were found as independent predictors of prolonged AEMD. CONCLUSIONS: We found that EAT thickness was closely related with AEMD, and we also found that EAT and LAVI were independent predictors of prolonged AEMD. These findings may be helpful to explain some pathogenic mechanisms in the development of AF.