Epicardial Fat Volume and Aortic Stiffness in Healthy Individuals: A Quantitative Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study

Purpose: To determine epicardial fat volume (EFV) and aortic stiffness (assessed by aortic pulse wave velocity (PWV)) in healthy individuals, and to investigate the relationship of these parameters, and their association with body mass index (BMI) and age. Materials and Methods: 58 subjects (29 men, mean age 44.7 +/- 13.9 years[y]) underwent a CMR exam at 1.5 Tesla. A 2D velocity-encoded CMR scan was acquired to determine PWV. The EFV was measured based on a 3 D-mDixon sequence. Group comparisons were made between younger (age <45y; n = 30; mean age 33.4 +/- 6.6y) and older (>45y; n = 28; 56.7 +/- 8.4y) subjects and between subjects with a BMI <25 kg/m(2) (n = 28; BMI 21.9 +/- 2.5 kg/m(2)) and a BMI >25 kg/m(2) (n = 30; 28.7 +/- 4.0 kg/m(2)). Associations between the determined parameters were assessed by analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs). Results: The mean values of PWV and EFV (normalized to body surface area) were 6.9 +/- 1.9 m/s and 44.2 +/- 25.0 ml/m(2), respectively. The PWV and EFV were significantly higher in the older group (PWV = 7.9 +/- 2.0 m/s vs. 6.0 +/- 1.2 m/s; EFV = 54.7 ml/m +/- vs. 34.5 ml/m +/-; p < 0.01, each), with no significant differences in BMI or sex. In the overweighted group the EFV was significantly higher than in subjects with a BMI < 25 kg/m +/- (EFV = 56.1 +/- 27.1 ml/m(2) vs. 31.5 +/- 14.6 ml/m(2); p < 0.01) but without a significant difference in PWV. ANCOVA revealed a significant correlation between EFV and PWV, also after adjustment for age (p = 0.025). Conclusion: An association was found between age and EFV as well as PWV. EFV and PWV were related to each other also after adjustment for age. The metabolic and pro-inflammatory activity found with increased epicardial fat volume may promote the development of atherosclerosis and aortic stiffness. CMR may be valuable for future studies investigating the relationship between EFV and PWV in patients with increased cardiovascular risk.