Resumen:
Introduction and objectives: There is currently increasing interest in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) as a marker of cardiovascular disease. Our purpose was to describe EAT, measured by transthoracic echocardiography, and to assess its association with metabolic syndrome (MS) in the RIVANA population-based study. Methods: Physical examination was performed in 880 participants aged 45 to 74 years (492 of them with MS according to the harmonized definition). Fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglyceride, and C-reactive protein concentrations were determined in a blood sample. In all participants, EAT thickness was measured with transthoracic echocardiography at end-systole. Results: Among participants without MS, the prevalence of EAT >= 5 mm significantly increased with age (OR > 65 years vs 45-54 years = 8.22; 95% CI, 3.90-17.35; P for trend < .001). Increasing EAT quintiles were significantly associated with MS (OR fifth quintile vs first quintile = 3.26; 95% CI, 1.59-6.71; P for trend = .001). Considering the different MS criteria, increasing quintiles of EAT were independently associated with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (OR fifth quintile vs first quintile = 2.65; 95% CI, 1.16-6.05; P for trend = .028), high triglycerides (OR fifth quintile vs first quintile = 2.22; 95% CI, 1.26-3.90; P for trend = .003), and elevated waist circumference (OR fifth quintile vs first quintile = 6.85; 95% CI, 2.91-16.11; P for trend < .001). Conclusions: In a subsample of the general population, EAT measured by echocardiography increased significantly and independently with age. Increased EAT thickness was independently associated with MS and with low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high triglycerides, and elevated waist circumference as individual criteria. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. on behalf of Sociedad Espanola de Cardiologia.
