Prevention & lipidsSecondary analysis
Serial Changes in Epicardial Adipose Tissue Attenuation Identify Residual Atherosclerotic Risk Independent of LDL Lowering
- Secondary analysis of the CAUGHT-CAD randomised trial
- serial coronary CT angiography
Authors' conclusion
The association of serial changes in EAT attenuation with coronary plaque remodeling, independent of LDL-C lowering, supports a potential mechanistic role for EAT inflammation in residual plaque progression.
Study context
- Population
- Asymptomatic, statin-naive participants in the CAUGHT-CAD trial with paired baseline and follow-up coronary CT angiography
- Participants
- 313 participants
- Comparison
- Longitudinal change in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) attenuation and volume vs coronary plaque progression
- Primary endpoint
- Coronary plaque outcomes (NCP progression and adverse plaque remodeling) by longitudinal change in EAT volume and attenuation
Primary result
As reported in the abstract
Plaque change per 1-SD increase in ΔEAT attenuation
Per 1-SD increase in ΔEAT attenuationDifference, mm3 (95% CI)P value
NCP volume
4.21(0.67–7.74)
P = 0.020fibrous plaque volume
3.55(0.67–6.43)
P = 0.016Per 1-SD increase in ΔEAT attenuation, as printed
Per 1-SD increase in ΔEAT attenuationDifference, % (95% CI)P value
NCP percent atheroma volume
1.08(0.47–1.69)
P < 0.001Per 1-SD increase in ΔEAT attenuation, as printed
Further findings
| Outcome | β (HU) | P value |
|---|---|---|
| ΔPCAT attenuation per SD of ΔEAT attenuation (exploratory) · exploratory | 2.44 | P < 0.001 |
Incremental model fit of ΔEAT attenuation over low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-based model (high baseline EAT volume, tertile 3 ≥67.1 cm3)
- Δ Akaike information criterion
- −4.8
- Likelihood ratio test
- P = 0.012
Original publication
Serial Changes in Epicardial Adipose Tissue Attenuation Identify Residual Atherosclerotic Risk Independent of LDL Lowering. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging. Published 8 July 2026. doi:10.1016/j.jcmg.2026.05.014
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it