Pericardial fat is associated with carotid stiffness in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

T. E. Brinkley, F. C. Hsu, J. J. Carr, W. G. Hundley, D. A. Bluemke, J. F. Polak, J. Ding

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

29 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background and aims: Arterial stiffness is a prominent feature of vascular aging and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Fat around the heart and blood vessels (i.e. pericardial fat, Pfat) may contribute to arterial stiffness via a local paracrine effect of adipose tissue on the surrounding vasculature. Thus, we determined the association between Pfat and carotid stiffness in 5770 participants (mean age 62. years, 53% female, 25% African American, 24% Hispanic, and 13% Chinese) from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Methods and results: Pfat was measured by computed tomography, and ultrasonography of the common carotid artery was used to calculate the distensibility coefficient (DC) and Young's modulus (YM). Lower DC and higher YM values indicate stiffer arteries. Pfat quartile was highly associated with demographic, behavioral, anthropometric, hemodynamic, metabolic, and disease variables in both men and women. After adjusting for height, clinical site, CVD risk factors, and medications, a 1 standard deviation (41.91cm3) increment in Pfat was associated with a 0.00007±0.00002 1/mmHg lower DC (p=0.0002) in men and a 48.1±15.1mmHg/mm higher YM in women (p=0.002). Additional adjustment for C-reactive protein, coronary artery calcification, and carotid intima-media thickness had only modest effects. More importantly, adjusting for body mass index and waist circumference did not significantly change the overall results. Conclusion: Higher Pfat is associated with higher carotid stiffness, independent of traditional CVD risk factors and obesity.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)332-338
Number of pages7
JournalNutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases
Volume21
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2011
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Arterial stiffness
  • Carotid artery
  • Distensibility
  • Pericardial fat

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Medicine (miscellaneous)
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
  • Nutrition and Dietetics
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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