The impact of diabetes on the association between epicardial fat thickness and extent and complexity of coronary artery disease in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) is associated with increased cardio metabolic risk. Recent studies have suggested that there is a strong relationship between diabetes and EFT. Although the relationship between EFT and coronary artery disease (CAD) is well known, the possible impact of diabetes on the relationship between EFT and extent and complexity of CAD was not fully investigated.

AIM

We aimed to investigate the relationship between EFT and extent and complexity of CAD in patients with non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) with and without diabetes.

METHODS

We prospectively included 454 patients with NSTEMI (mean age: 61.8 ± 10.4 years) in the present study. Patients were classified into two groups according to their diabetes status (diabetic group and non-diabetic group). EFT was measured by transthoracic echocardiography on the right ventricle in individuals having the left lateral decubitus position. SYNTAX score was used to define the extent and complexity of CAD. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and other biochemical markers were measured in all participants.

RESULTS

Diabetic patients had higher EFT values compared with non-diabetics (p < 0.05). EFT is independently associated with diabetes, SYNTAX score, and hs-CRP in all patients (p < 0.05, for all). When patients were divided into two groups, as diabetic and non-diabetic, the association between EFT and SYNTAX score was stronger in diabetic patients compared with non-diabetics (r = 0.635; p < 0.001 vs. r = 0.179; p = 0.003).

CONCLUSIONS

Epicardial fat thickness is associated with SYNTAX score in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients. Furthermore, there is a stricter relationship between EFT and SYNTAX score in diabetic patients.