Evaluation of the relationship between epicardial fat volume and left ventricular diastolic dysfunction

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between epicardial fat tissue (EFT) volume and left ventricular diastolic function. A total of 63 patients (29 male, 34 female, mean age 57.8 +/- A 10.9 years) were enrolled in the study. Multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and 2D transthoracic echocardiography were performed in 29 patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and 34 patients with normal diastolic function. EFT volume and coronary calcium score were measured by MDCT. Mean EFT volume was 137.2 +/- A 56.2 cm(3) for the whole study group. Mean EFT was 114.1 +/- A 46.6 cm(3) in patients with normal left ventricular diastolic function and 164.4 +/- A 54.9 cm(3) in those with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (p = 0.0002). Diastolic dysfunction had no significant correlation with diabetes, hypertension, and coronary calcium scoring (p > 0.05). Also in our patient group EFT volume had no significant correlation with coronary calcium score (r = 0.148, p = 0.248). Patients with left ventricular diastolic dysfunction had significantly increased EFT volume.