Valvular & structural heart diseaseCohort study
Atrial fibrillation modifies the association between computed tomography (CT)-derived epicardial adipose tissue volume and left atrial remodeling in valvular heart disease
- retrospective valvular surgery cohort
- 1:1 propensity score matching
Authors' conclusion
Higher CT-derived EATv was associated with more advanced left atrial remodeling, with stronger associations in AF than in SR. EATv may serve as a CT-derived marker of remodeling vulnerability in valvular heart disease.
Study context
- Population
- Patients undergoing valvular surgery with valvular heart disease, with AF or sinus rhythmafter 1:1 propensity score matching · AF 218 · SR 218
- Participants
- 436 patients
- Exposure
- Association of CT-derived epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATv) with left atrial remodeling in AF vs SR
- AFn = 218
- SRn = 218
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
LAVI per 10 cm3 increase in EATv (primary adjusted model)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Baseline EATv and atrial size
- Patients with AF had higher EATv and larger atria than those with SR
Left atrial enlargement (LAE)
- EATv associated with LAE, odds ratio (95% confidence interval 1.17-1.43)
- 1.29
- AF-by-EATv interaction, odds ratio (95% confidence interval 1.15-1.74)
- 1.41
Discrimination for LAE after adding EATv
- AUC
- 0.767-0.804
- P = .007
Exploratory tissue analyses
- Adipocyte hypertrophy, fibrosis, and reduced Wnt-antagonist secretion in AF-associated EAT
- exploratory
Original publication
Atrial fibrillation modifies the association between CT-derived epicardial adipose tissue volume and left atrial remodeling in valvular heart disease. Heart Rhythm. Published 24 August 2026. doi:10.1016/j.hrthm.2026.08.021
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it