The association among MDCT-derived three-dimensional visceral adiposities on cardiac diastology and dyssynchrony in asymptomatic population

BMC Cardiovasc Disord. 2015 Oct 30:15:142. doi: 10.1186/s12872-015-0136-8.

Abstract

Background: Visceral adipose tissue, a biologically active fat depot, has been proposed as a reliable marker for visceral adiposity and metabolic abnormalities. Effects of such adiposity on LV diastolic function and dyssynchrony remained largely unknown.

Methods: We assessed pericardial fat (PCF) and thoracic peri-aortic fat (TPAF) by three-dimensional (3D) volume-vender multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) (Aquarius 3D Workstation, TeraRecon, San Mateo, CA, USA). Echo-derived diastolic parameters and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) defined mitral annular systolic (S'), early diastolic (E') velocities as well as LV filling (E/E') were all obtained. Intra-ventricular systolic (Sys-D) and diastolic (Dias-D) dyssynchrony were assessed by TDI method.

Results: A total of 318 asymptomatic subjects (mean age: 53.5 years, 36.8 % female) were eligible in this study. Greater PCF and TPAF were both associated with unfavorable diastolic indices and higher diastolic dyssynchrony (all p < 0.05). These associations remained relatively unchanged in multi-variate models. PCF and TPAF set at 81.68 & 8.11 ml yielded the largest sensitivity and specificity (78.6 and 60 % for PCF, 75 and 66.6 % for TPAF, respectively) in predicting abnormally high LV diastolic dyssynchrony, which was defined as Dias-D≧55 ms.

Conclusion: Increasing visceral adiposity may be associated with adverse effects on myocardium, primarily featured by worse diastolic function and greater degree of dyssynchrony.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adiposity / physiology
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • Diastole / physiology
  • Echocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multidetector Computed Tomography*
  • Obesity, Abdominal / diagnostic imaging*
  • Obesity, Abdominal / physiopathology*
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / diagnostic imaging
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / physiopathology*