Evaluation of Echocardiographic Epicardial Fat Thickness as a Sign of Cardiovascular Risk in Positive Exercise Test Patients.

BACKGROUND: The association between epicardial fat thickness (EFT) and positive exercise test results for the diagnosis of coronary artery diseases (CAD) has yet to be evaluated. This study assessed the predictive value of EFT for CAD on the angiographs of patients with positive exercise tests. METHODS: A total of 91 subjects were chosen consecutively from stable angina pectoris patients who were referred for coronary angiography due to a positive exercise test result. The EFT measures were obtained by echocardiographic parasternal long-axis views on the free wall of the right ventricle at end-systole of three cardiac cycles. Gensini scores were calculated by a conventional coronary angiography technique using a calculation method previously defined. RESULTS: Receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis revealed a 0.65 cm (95% confidence interval: 0.628, 0.832, p 0.65 cm) was the only independent risk factor for critical coronary artery stenosis (β = 0.451, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: EFT was significantly correlated with the severity and prevalence of coronary artery disease in positive exercise test patients.