Abstract 13243: Pericardial Fat is a Useful Predictor of Future Cardiovascular Events Independent of High-Risk Coronary Plaques

Background: Pericardial fat is recognized as a risk factor for coronary stenosis. However, it remains unclear whether ectopic fat deposition, such as pericardial fat and intrathoracic fat, is an independent predictor of future cardiovascular events. Methods: We measured pericardial fat volume (PFV) and intrathoracic fat volume (IFV) in 355 patients (203 men; mean age, 68.1 ± 10.6 years) who underwent coronary computed tomography angiography. Among 200 patients who were judged to have obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD), cardiovascular events, defined as death, acute coronary syndrome, cerebral stroke, heart failure, and coronary revascularization, were assessed at 5 years. Results: There was a strong association between PFV and IFV (R=0.707, P<0.001). Body mass index (BMI) was significantly associated with PFV (R=0.538, P<0.001) and IFV (R=0.633, P<0.001). PFV and IFV were significantly larger in patients with high-risk coronary plaque (HRP), including low-density plaque, positive remodeling, and sp...