Relation of Pericardial Adipose Tissue Thickness by Echocardiography to Coronary Artery Disease

Background and Objectives: Coronary artery disease (CAD) continues to be a predominant cause of global morbidity. This study aimed to investigate the association between the thickness of pericardial adipose tissue (PAT) and the intensity and spread of CAD.Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was conducted at Sulaimanyah Cardiac Hospital from January to December 2023. A total of 100 patients undergoing their first coronary angiography due to chest pain were recruited. The collection of data encompassed interviews, physical assessments, laboratory tests, electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, and coronary angiographies.Results: Patients were categorized based on PAT thickness into two groups: PAT ≤ 0.3 cm 20 (20%) and PAT > 0.3 cm 80 (80%). Significant findings included higher rates of systemic hypertension (p=0.02), Waist circumference (WC) (p< 0.001), metabolic syndrome (p=0.003), atypical chest pain (p<0.01), abdominal obesity (p<0.01), and ischemic ECG finding (p=0.02) in the thicker PAT group. Echocardiographic and angiographic assessments revealed a significant association between increased PAT thickness and greater prevalence and severity of CAD. Notably, the presence of CAD correlated significantly with PAT thickness (r=0.350, p<0.001).Conclusion: Increased PAT thickness is associated with the severity and extent of CAD, suggesting that PAT could serve as a potential marker for cardiovascular risk stratification