Relationship of obesity assessed by Body Mass Index, waist circumference and body fat percentage measurement methods to epicardial fat thickness in non-diabetic young adults

BACKGROUND: Epicardial fat (EF) is the true visceral adipose depot of the heart which lies between the myocardium and visceral pericardium. Several studies show a direct correlation between epicardial fat width and coronary lesions. The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between obesity measurement and epicardial fat thickness in non-diabetic young adults. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. 90 adults participated in the study. Anthropometric measurements were taken including body weight and height (to measure Body Mass Index [BMI]), waist circumference (WC) and body fat percentage (BFP) using a bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) tool Tanita BC-418 Body Composition Analyzer. EF thickness was examined using echocardiography. RESULTS: From the statistical test results for the BMI variable, the P value <0.001 indicates statistical significance between BMI and EF thickness. According to the R-value, the correlation between BMI and EF thickness was categorized as strong (R>0.500). For the WC variable, the P value <0.001 indicates statistical significance between WC and EF thickness. According to the R-value, WC and EF thickness were moderately correlated (0.250<R<0.500). For the BFP variable, the obtained P value was <0.001, which shows statistical significance between BFP and EF thickness. Based on the R-value, the correlation between BFP and EF thickness was categorized as moderate direct correlation (0.250<R<0.500). CONCLUSIONS: Obesity measurement parameters with BMI, WC, and BFP methods correlate with EF thickness. Of the three methods, BMI demonstrates the strongest correlation.