Relationship between different clinical characteristics and pericoronary adipose tissue attenuation values quantified from coronary computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) in patients without coronary heart disease (CHD)

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.