The relationship between epicardial adipose tissue thickness and left ventricular functions

Aim: To investigate the effect of epicardial adipose tissue thickness on the systolic, diastolic and combined functions of left ventricle.Method: Fourty three patients who were measured epicardial adipose tissue thickness by the echocardiography included in study. According to the epicardial adipose tissue thickness, patients were divided to two groups : group 1 (<3 mm) and group 2 (?3 mm). The full demographic characteristics of the study population were recorded. All population underwent standart and tissue Doppler echocardiography. The relation between epicardial adipose tissue thickness and other variables were assessed by correlation analysis. A multivariable analysis was performed to find independent predictors of systolic, diastolic and combined left ventricular functions.Results: There were 18 patients (mean age 55 ± 13 years) in group1 and 25 patients in group 2 (mean age 61 ± 10 years). The features of baseline demographics and drugs used were similar. The baseline echocardiographic parameters such as left ventricular diameters, volumes and wall thickness were similar in two groups. There were not differences regarding to left ventricular systolic function between two groups. Diastolic and combined function asessed by Tei index were found more impaired in group 2 than group 1. In multivariable analysis, epicardial tissue thickness was found an independent predictor for Tei index.Conclusions: Epicardial fat thickness has an advers effect on the left ventricular functions.