Epicardial adipose tissue thickness in children and adolescents with cardiometabolic risk factors

Objective

To assess the relationship of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness with cardiometabolic risk factors (CRFs) in children and adolescents.

Methods

Seventy-seven subjects of both sexes aged 7–18 years were selected. Medical history, clinical parameters, and glucose, insulin, and lipid levels were collected. EAT thickness was measured using transthoracic echocardiography. Study subjects were divided into two groups based on whether they had less than two or two or more CRFs.

Results

The group with two or more CRFs had higher EAT thickness, insulin, and HOMA-IR values (p < 0.05). EAT thickness showed a statistically significant positive correlation with body mass index (BMI) (r = 0.561, p = 0.0001), waist circumference (r = 0.549, p = 0.0001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (r = 0.256, p = 0.028), insulin (r = 0.408, p = 0.0001), and HOMA-IR (r = 0.325, p = 0.005). However, these correlations were not significant after adjustment for BMI. The cut-off point for EAT thickness as predictor of two or more CRFs was 3.17 mm. The risk (odds ratio) of having two or more CRFs if EAT thickness was >3.17 mm was 3.1 (95% CI: 1.174–8.022). BMI was the independent variable that most affected EAT thickness and the presence of two or more CRFs.

Conclusion

In this group of children and adolescents, the relationship of EAT thickness with CRFs was found to be dependent on BMI.