EPICARDIAL FAT THICKNESS IS ASSOCIATED WITH DIASTOLIC DYSFUNCTION IN OBESE HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Diastolic dysfunction is characterized by alterations in left ventricle diastolic lling and is a predictor of cardiovascular events. Several risk factors, including hypertension, obesity, and increased visceral fat, are implicated in the development of left ventricle diastolic dysfunction (LVDD). Epicardial adipose tissue is true visceral fat. The presence and severity of diastolic dysfunction is commonly evaluated by echocardiography, also, transthoracic echocardiography provides a reliable measurement of epicardial fat thickness. The aim of this work was to evaluate if epicardial fat has a role in the development of LVDD in obese hypertensive patients. Methods. We included 70 hypertensive obese patients who underwent echocardiography with an Aloka Alfa 6 equipment (Japan) using a 3.5 MHz transducer, by 2 cardiologists who were unaware of the clinical data. Epicardial fat thickness was measured as described by Iacobellis. To assess diastolic dysfunction, the E/A ratio, the deceleration time, and the e'/a' ratio were used according to the Nagueh criteria. Statistical analysis was performed with the sher test. Results. We found LVDD in 56 obese hypertensive patients. When we evaluated the risk for LVDD inobese hypertensive patients with an EFT ≥ 4 mm, we found a statistically signicant association (p<0.01), Interestingly, only one patient with an EFT < 4 mm shown LVDD. Conclusion: We found that Epicardial fat thickness > 4mm is associated with LVDD in obese hypertensive subjects. The measurement of EFT whereas non-invasive and useful, should be part of the cardiovascular risk evaluation in obese hypertensive patients.