Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) is a sensor of vascular inflammation. Elevated PCAT attenuation values indicate the presence of coronary inflammation in patients. However, it is unclear which clinical characteristics are associated with increased PCAT attenuation values in patients without coronary heart disease (CHD). The study aims to investigate the relationship between increased PCAT attenuation values and clinical characteristics of patients without CHD. METHODS: We recruited 785 eligible patients without CHD who underwent coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA). Clinical data were recorded for each patient, and PCAT attenuation values for the left anterior descending branch (LAD(PCAT)), left circumflex branch (LCX(PCAT)), and right coronary artery (RCA(PCAT)) were quantified by CCTA using fully automated software. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify the associations between different clinical characteristics and elevated LAD(PCAT), LCX(PCAT), and RCA(PCAT). RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed body mass index (BMI) to be positively associated with LAD(PCAT) (rs=0.109), LCX(PCAT) (rs=0.076), and RCA(PCAT) (rs=0.083). Moreover, the duration of smoking, and drinking was positively associated with LAD(PCAT) (rs=0.099, 0.165). Hyperlipidemia was positively associated with LAD(PCAT) (rs=0.089) and RCA(PCAT) (rs=0.334), while statin use was negatively associated with RCA(PCAT) (rs=-0.145). Multivariate analysis showed that the significant determinants of LAD(PCAT) were BMI (β=0.359, P=0.001), duration of smoking (β=2.612, P=0.002), drinking (β=4.106, P<0.001), and hyperlipidemia (β=1.664, P=0.027). LCX(PCAT) was associated with BMI (β=0.218, P=0.024), while RCA(PCAT) was associated with hyperlipidemia (β=6.110, P<0.001) and statin use (β=-3.338, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In patients without CHD, the PCAT attenuation values measured using CCTA were associated with various clinical characteristics. LAD(PCAT) was associated with BMI, smoking duration, drinking, and hyperlipidemia. On the other hand, LCX(PCAT) was associated with BMI, while RCA(PCAT) was associated with hyperlipidemia and statin use.