Iraqi Postgraduate Medical Journal

Abstract

ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND:
Obesity currently affects nearly one-third of the population in the industrialized world.
Traditionally, anthropometric measures such as body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference
have been used to quantify overall adiposity; however, regional fat depots may be of greater
importance than overall adiposity. Several studies have highlighted pericardial fat and abdominal
visceral adipose tissue (VAT)as unique, pathogenic fat depot.
OBJECTIVE:
Recognize the relation of obesity to increase epicardial fat pad thickness in Iraqi patients.
METHODS:
Epicardial fat thickness was measured in 62 consecutive subjects (28 women 45%, 34 men 55%)
mean age of 47.77 years (SD 8.03),using routine transthoracic echocardiogram. Epicardial fat was
identified as the echo-free space between the outer wall of the myocardium and the visceral layer
of the pericardium, and its thickness was measured perpendicularly on the free wall of the right
ventricle at end-systole.
RESULTS:
The results show progressive increase of epicardial fat with increasing BMI which was very
significant statistically. High mean epicardial fat is significantly associate with increasing waist
circumference. No difference in those below and above 45 years of age in mean epicardial fat and
there is gender difference in epicardial fat, where males had more epicardial fat than females.
CONCLUSION:
There is increase in the epicardial fat pad thickness in overweight and obese (BMI≥25) patients if
compared to normal persons epicardial fat increase with increasing waist circumference more
likely in male obese and independent of age