Echocardiographic epicardial fat thickness is associated with carotid intima-media thickness in patients with metabolic syndrome

Background: Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is a potential indicator of subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) is suggested as a new cardiometabolic risk factor. We investigated the association between EFT and CIMT in patients with MetS. Methods: Forty patients with MetS were compared with 40 age- and sex-matched subjects without MetS in terms of echocardiographic EFT, CIMT, anthropometric measurements, and metabolic profile in this cross-sectional study. Results: The waist circumference, total and LDL-cholesterol, fasting glucose, triglycerides, systolics and diastolic blood pressure levels, hs-CRP, and homeostasis model assessment index for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) were significantly increased in patients with MetS. The EFT and CIMT were also increased significantly in patients with MetS compared to controls (7.2 ± 2 mm vs. 5.7 ± 1.9 mm; P = 0.001, 0.74 ± 0.1 mm vs. 0.59 ± 0.1 mm; P < 0.01, respectively). Echocardiographic EFT was the only independent predictor of CIMT in the multivariate analysis (standardized β coefficient = 0.74, P < 0.001). Conclusion: EFT is associated with increased CIMT in patients with MetS.