This study examined the relationship between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume assessed by multislice computed tomography and the presence of coronary atherosclerosis in a sample of 190 patients. There was a relationship between coronary artery calcium score and EAT volume (r=0.33, p=0.002). The EAT volume was significantly higher in patients with a coronary artery calcium score >10 as compared to patients with a score ≤10 (100±40 vs. 59±27 ml, p<0.001). Moreover, the EAT volume was significantly greater in patients with atherosclerosis (nonobstructive atherosclerosis, obstructive atherosclerosis in a single vessel, obstructive atherosclerosis in the left main coronary artery and/or multiple vessels) than in patients without atherosclerosis (99±40 vs. 63±31 ml, p<0.001). There was no difference in EAT volume between the three groups of patients with atherosclerosis. Finally, in a multivariate analysis, EAT volume, age, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and body mass index were significant predictors of coronary atherosclerosis.
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