Relationship of Pericardial Fat Tissue With Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients Without Cardiovascular Diseases

Background: Obesity and related cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are important public health problems. The role of visceral ectopic fat remains contested. We studied the relationship between pericardial fat tissue (PFT) volume and CVD risk factors. Methods: We examined 320 patients (average age 63.8 ± 19.9 years) without manifested CVD. Anthropometric indicators were measured, and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. The total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and triglycerides were assessed. Cardiovascular (CV) risk was calculated using the SCORE system. All patients underwent chest computed tomography with detection of PFT volume using specialized semiautomatic software. Results: Among study participants with normal body mass, the PFT volume was 1.95 cm³ [2.1; 3.9], while it was 3.0 cm³ [2.0; 3.7] in overweight patients and 3.6 cm³ [2.7; 4.7] in obese patients (P < 0.001). Patients with hypertension (HTN) also had significantly higher PFT volumes compared with individuals without HTN: 3.1 cm³ [2.3; 4.15] versus 1.8 cm³ [1.0; 2.5] (P < 0.001). Patients with higher CV risk had significantly higher PFT volume, categorized as follows: 1.6 cm³ [1.0; 2.4], low risk; 2.24 cm³ [2.0; 3.1], moderate risk; 3.1 cm³ [2.4; 3.7], high risk; and 3.9 cm³ [3.0; 5.1], very high risk, respectively (P < 0.001). Results of multiple regression demonstrated that waist circumference and HDL-C were significantly associated with PFT volume. Another model revealed a significant association of BMI and PFT volume with the level of CV risk. Conclusions: This study demonstrates the association of PFT volume with the major diagnostic criteria of obesity, HTN, lipid disorders, and CV risk measured by the SCORE system.