Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT), Left Coronary Artery Plaque Morphology, and Valvular Atherosclerosis as Risks Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death from a Forensic Perspective.
Timur HogeaBogdan Andrei SuciuAdrian Dumitru IvănescuCosmin CarașcaLaura ChinezuEmil-Marian ArbănaşiEliza RussuRéka KallerAlexandra-Cristina MunteanuAdrian Vasile MureșanCorina Carmen RaduPublished in: Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland) (2023)
Background: In sudden cardiac deaths (SCD), visceral adipose tissue has begun to manifest interest as a standalone cardiovascular risk factor. Studies have shown that epicardial adipose tissue can be seen as a viable marker of coronary atherosclerosis. This study aimed to evaluate, from a forensic perspective, the correlation between body mass index (BMI), heart weight, coronary and valvular atherosclerosis, left ventricular morphology, and the thickness of the epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) in sudden cardiac deaths, establishing an increased thickness of EAT as a novel risk factor. Methods : This is a retrospective case-control descriptive study that included 80 deaths that were autopsied, 40 sudden cardiac deaths, and 40 control cases who hanged themselves and had unknown pathologies prior to their death. In all the autopsies performed, the thickness of the epicardial adipose tissue was measured in two regions of the left coronary artery, and the left ventricular morphology, macro/microscopically quantified coronary and valvular atherosclerosis, and weight of the heart were evaluated. Results : This study revealed a higher age in the SCD group (58.82 ± 9.67 vs. 53.4 ± 13.00; p = 0.03), as well as a higher incidence in females ( p = 0.03). In terms of heart and coronary artery characteristics, there were higher values of BMI ( p = 0.0009), heart weight ( p < 0.0001), EAT of the left circumflex artery (LCx) ( p < 0.0001), and EAT of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) ( p < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, a high baseline value of BMI (OR: 4.05; p = 0.004), heart weight (OR: 5.47; p < 0.001), EAT LCx (OR: 23.72; p < 0.001), and EAT LAD (OR: 21.07; p < 0.001) were strong independent predictors of SCD. Moreover, age over 55 years (OR: 2.53; p = 0.045), type Vb plaque (OR: 17.19; p < 0.001), mild valvular atherosclerosis (OR: 4.88; p = 0.002), and moderate left ventricle dilatation (OR: 16.71; p = 0.008) all act as predictors of SCD. Conclusions : The data of this research revealed that higher baseline values of BMI, heart weight, EAT LCx, and EAT LAD highly predict SCD. Furthermore, age above 55 years, type Vb plaque, mild valvular atherosclerosis, and left ventricle dilatation were all risk factors for SCD.
Keyphrases
- body mass index
- coronary artery
- adipose tissue
- atrial fibrillation
- left ventricular
- pulmonary artery
- weight gain
- heart failure
- coronary artery disease
- insulin resistance
- cardiovascular disease
- physical activity
- high fat diet
- risk factors
- weight loss
- aortic stenosis
- aortic valve
- oral anticoagulants
- mitral valve
- case control
- left atrial
- acute myocardial infarction
- pulmonary hypertension
- single cell
- hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
- metabolic syndrome
- risk assessment
- percutaneous coronary intervention
- transcatheter aortic valve replacement
- catheter ablation
- cardiac resynchronization therapy
- pulmonary arterial hypertension
- data analysis
- skeletal muscle
- ejection fraction
- acute coronary syndrome
- human health