Epicardial adipose tissue volume is not an independent predictor of atrial fibrillation recurrence after catheter ablation

Autores da FMUP

• Francisca Almeida Saraiva

  Autor

• António Sousa Barros

  Autor

• Francisco Pedro Morais Dias De Almeida Sampaio

  Autor

• Ricardo José Araújo Ladeiras Lopes

  Autor

• Ricardo Manuel Alves Monteiro Fontes De Carvalho

  Autor

Participantes de fora da FMUP

• Cruz, I
• Fernandes, SL
• Diaz, SO
• Primo, J

Unidades de investigação

• Cirurgia e Fisiologia

• Laboratório Associado RISE- Rede de Investigação em Saúde

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

• RISE-Health

  

  Investigador

  Fernando Carlos De Landér Schmitt

Abstract

Introduction and objectives: Previous studies have suggested that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) could exert a paracrine effect in the myocardium. However, few studies have assessed its role in the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence. This study aimed to evaluate the association between EAT volume, and its attenuation, with the risk of AF recurrence after AF ablation. Methods: A total of 350 consecutive patients who underwent AF ablation were included. The median age was 57 [IQR 48-65] years and 21% had persistent AF. Epicardial fat was quantified by multidetector computed tomography using Syngo. via Frontier-Cardiac Risk Assessment software, measuring pericardial fat volume (PATV), EAT volume, and attenuation of EAT posterior to the left atrium. AF recurrence was defined as any documented episode of AF, atrial flutter, or atrial tachycardia more than 3 months after the procedure. Results: After a median follow-up of 34 [range, 12-57] months, 114 patients (33%) had AF recurrence. Univariable Cox regression showed that patients with an EAT volume >= 80 mL had an increased risk of AF recurrence (HR, 1.65; 95%CI, 1.14-2.39; P =.007). However, after multivariable adjustment, EAT volume did not remain an independent predictor of AF recurrence (HR, 1.24; 95%CI, 0.83-1.87; P =.3). Similar results were observed with PATV. Patients with lower attenuation of EAT did not have a higher risk of AF recurrence (log-rank test, P =.75). Conclusions: EAT parameters including the evaluation of EAT volume, PATV and EAT attenuation were not independent predictors of AF recurrence after catheter ablation. (c) C 2022 Sociedad Espanola de Cardiologi ' a. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

Keywords

• Atrial fibrillation; Epicardial adipose tissue; Computed tomography; Catheter ablation