Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
Association of Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy
Main finding · Appropriate ICD therapyResult — go to the resultAdjusted hazard ratio 1.65 95% CI 1.17–2.42Authors' conclusion
Low ventricular EAT was associated with increased SCD risk in NICM patients receiving primary prevention ICD implantation, even in the presence of other risk markers.
Study context
- Population
- Nonischemic cardiomyopathy (NICM) patients scheduled for primary prevention ICD implantation who underwent preimplant CMR (age 53 ± 14 years, 73% men)
- Participants
- 173 patients
- Exposure
- Low vs higher ventricular epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume on preimplant CMR
- Outcome
- Appropriate ICD therapy
- Follow-up
- Mean 3.6 years
Methodological detailsconsecutive patients, EAT volume surrounding both ventricles manually quantified from cine LV short-axis images (modified Simpson rule)
- Consecutive patients
- EAT volume surrounding both ventricles manually quantified from cine LV short-axis images (modified Simpson rule)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Adjusted hazard ratio
1.65
95% CI 1.17–2.42
P = 0.007
Low EAT (per 10 mL/m² decrease)
adjusted HR 1.65 (95% CI 1.17–2.42); P = 0.007
Per 10 mL/m² decrease, as printed
- Patients experiencing an endpoint
- 24 (14%)
- Inverse and proportional relationship between EAT and subsequent ICD therapies
- P = 0.004
- EAT ≤50 mL/m²: 3-fold increase in sudden cardiac death (SCD) event risk; estimated likelihood at 5 years
- 57%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
- EAT provided incremental prognostic value in predicting ICD therapy when considered with other potential risk factors
Original publication
Association of Epicardial Adipose Tissue and Ventricular Arrhythmias in Patients With Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy. JACC Adv. Published 26 December 2024. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it