Epicardial Adipose Tissue Is Associated With Visceral Fat, Metabolic Syndrome, and Insulin Resistance in Menopausal Women

• Published in: Revista española de cardiología (English ed.) Vol. 67; no. 6; pp. 436 - 441
• Main Authors: Fernández Muñoz, María J., Basurto Acevedo, Lourdes, Córdova Pérez, Nydia, Vázquez Martínez, Ana Laura, Tepach Gutiérrez, Nayive, Vega García, Sara, Rocha Cruz, Alberto, Díaz Martínez, Alma, Saucedo García, Renata, Zárate Treviño, Arturo, González Escudero, Eduardo Alberto, Degollado Córdova, José Antonio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Elsevier Espana 01-06-2014
• Subjects: Adipose Tissue - metabolism; Aged; Body Mass Index; Cardiovascular risk factors; Cross-Sectional Studies; Echocardiography; Ecocardiografía; Epicardium; Factores de riesgo cardiovascular; Female; Humans; Insulin Resistance; Intra-Abdominal Fat - metabolism; Menopause; Menopause - metabolism; Menopausia; Metabolic syndrome; Metabolic Syndrome - metabolism; Middle Aged; Pericardium; Síndrome metabólico; Tejido adiposo epicárdico; Waist Circumference; Ecocardiografía; Echocardiography; MS; Menopause; VAT; Epicardium; Síndrome metabólico; Metabolic syndrome; Tejido adiposo epicárdico; Cardiovascular risk factors; Factores de riesgo cardiovascular; Menopausia; EAT; BMI
• ISSN: 1885-5857; 1885-5857
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rec.2013.10.011

Epicardial adipose tissue has been associated with several obesity-related parameters and with insulin resistance. Echocardiographic assessment of this tissue is an easy and reliable marker of cardiometabolic risk. However, there are insufficient studies on the relationship between epicardial fat and insulin resistance during the postmenopausal period, when cardiovascular risk increases in women. The objective of this study was to examine the association between epicardial adipose tissue and visceral adipose tissue, waist circumference, body mass index, and insulin resistance in postmenopausal women.
A cross sectional study was conducted in 34 postmenopausal women with and without metabolic syndrome. All participants underwent a transthoracic echocardiogram and body composition analysis.
A positive correlation was observed between epicardial fat and visceral adipose tissue, body mass index, and waist circumference. The values of these correlations of epicardial fat thickness overlying the aorta-right ventricle were r = 0.505 (P < .003), r = 0.545 (P < .001), and r = 0.515 (P < .003), respectively. Epicardial adipose tissue was higher in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome than in those without this syndrome (mean [standard deviation], 544.2 [122.9] vs 363.6 [162.3] mm2; P = .03).
Epicardial fat thickness measured by echocardiography was associated with visceral adipose tissue and other obesity parameters. Epicardial adipose tissue was higher in postmenopausal women with metabolic syndrome. Therefore, echocardiographic assessment of epicardial fat may be a simple and reliable marker of cardiovascular risk in postmenopausal women.
El tejido adiposo epicárdico se ha asociado con diversos índices de adiposidad y resistencia a insulina. La medición de este tejido por ecocardiografía se considera una herramienta útil y accesible para valorar factores de riesgo cardiometabólico; no obstante, aún no existen suficientes estudios en mujeres posmenopáusicas, que es una etapa en la que se presenta un incremento del riesgo cardiovascular. El objetivo del estudio es analizar la relación entre las mediciones del tejido adiposo epicárdico y tejido adiposo visceral, perímetro de cintura, índice de masa corporal y resistencia a insulina en mujeres posmenopáusicas.
Estudio transversal comparativo en 34 mujeres posmenopáusicas con y sin síndrome metabólico a las que se realizó ecocardiograma transtorácico y análisis de composición corporal.
Se encontró asociación positiva de las medidas de grasa epicárdica con el tejido adiposo visceral, el índice de masa corporal y el perímetro de cintura; en el surco aortoventricular derecho, las correlaciones fueron r = 0,505 (p < 0,003), r = 0,545 (p < 0,001) y r = 0,515 (p < 0,003) respectivamente. También se observó que las mujeres posmenopáusicas con síndrome metabólico presentaban aumento del tejido adiposo epicárdico en comparación con las que no tienen el síndrome (544,2 ± 122,9 frente a 363,6 ± 162,3mm2; p = 0,03).
El tejido adiposo epicárdico medido por ecocardiografía se asocia con el tejido adiposo abdominal y corporal en las mujeres posmenopáusicas. Las posmenopáusicas con síndrome metabólico presentan mayor cantidad de grasa epicárdica. La medición del tejido adiposo epicárdico por ecocardiografía puede ser un método de utilidad para evaluar el riesgo cardiovascular en la posmenopausia.