Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT), Left Coronary Artery Plaque Morphology, and Valvular Atherosclerosis as Risks Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death from a Forensic Perspective
<b>Background:</b> 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...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Diagnostics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/1/142 |
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| author | Timur Hogea Bogdan Andrei Suciu Adrian Dumitru Ivănescu Cosmin Carașca Laura Chinezu Emil Marian Arbănași Eliza Russu Réka Kaller Eliza Mihaela Arbănași Adrian Vasile Mureșan Corina Carmen Radu |
| author_facet | Timur Hogea Bogdan Andrei Suciu Adrian Dumitru Ivănescu Cosmin Carașca Laura Chinezu Emil Marian Arbănași Eliza Russu Réka Kaller Eliza Mihaela Arbănași Adrian Vasile Mureșan Corina Carmen Radu |
| author_sort | Timur Hogea |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> 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. <b>Methods</b>: 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. <b>Results</b>: This study revealed a higher age in the SCD group (58.82 ± 9.67 vs. 53.4 ± 13.00; <i>p</i> = 0.03), as well as a higher incidence in females (<i>p</i> = 0.03). In terms of heart and coronary artery characteristics, there were higher values of BMI (<i>p</i> = 0.0009), heart weight (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), EAT of the left circumflex artery (LCx) (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), and EAT of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, a high baseline value of BMI (OR: 4.05; <i>p</i> = 0.004), heart weight (OR: 5.47; <i>p</i> < 0.001), EAT LCx (OR: 23.72; <i>p</i> < 0.001), and EAT LAD (OR: 21.07; <i>p</i> < 0.001) were strong independent predictors of SCD. Moreover, age over 55 years (OR: 2.53; <i>p</i> = 0.045), type Vb plaque (OR: 17.19; <i>p</i> < 0.001), mild valvular atherosclerosis (OR: 4.88; <i>p</i> = 0.002), and moderate left ventricle dilatation (OR: 16.71; <i>p</i> = 0.008) all act as predictors of SCD. <b>Conclusions</b>: 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. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:04:50Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4418 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T10:04:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diagnostics |
| spelling | doaj.art-52128d6a2cc04dec8b0fde6178827c6f2023-11-16T15:09:24ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182023-01-0113114210.3390/diagnostics13010142Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT), Left Coronary Artery Plaque Morphology, and Valvular Atherosclerosis as Risks Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death from a Forensic PerspectiveTimur Hogea0Bogdan Andrei Suciu1Adrian Dumitru Ivănescu2Cosmin Carașca3Laura Chinezu4Emil Marian Arbănași5Eliza Russu6Réka Kaller7Eliza Mihaela Arbănași8Adrian Vasile Mureșan9Corina Carmen Radu10Department of Forensic Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Anatomy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Anatomy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Forensic Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Histology, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaClinic of Vascular Surgery, Mures County Emergency Hospital, 540136 Targu Mures, RomaniaClinic of Vascular Surgery, Mures County Emergency Hospital, 540136 Targu Mures, RomaniaClinic of Vascular Surgery, Mures County Emergency Hospital, 540136 Targu Mures, RomaniaFaculty of Pharmacy, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, RomaniaClinic of Vascular Surgery, Mures County Emergency Hospital, 540136 Targu Mures, RomaniaDepartment of Forensic Medicine, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Targu Mures, 540139 Targu Mures, Romania<b>Background:</b> 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. <b>Methods</b>: 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. <b>Results</b>: This study revealed a higher age in the SCD group (58.82 ± 9.67 vs. 53.4 ± 13.00; <i>p</i> = 0.03), as well as a higher incidence in females (<i>p</i> = 0.03). In terms of heart and coronary artery characteristics, there were higher values of BMI (<i>p</i> = 0.0009), heart weight (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), EAT of the left circumflex artery (LCx) (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), and EAT of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). In the multivariate analysis, a high baseline value of BMI (OR: 4.05; <i>p</i> = 0.004), heart weight (OR: 5.47; <i>p</i> < 0.001), EAT LCx (OR: 23.72; <i>p</i> < 0.001), and EAT LAD (OR: 21.07; <i>p</i> < 0.001) were strong independent predictors of SCD. Moreover, age over 55 years (OR: 2.53; <i>p</i> = 0.045), type Vb plaque (OR: 17.19; <i>p</i> < 0.001), mild valvular atherosclerosis (OR: 4.88; <i>p</i> = 0.002), and moderate left ventricle dilatation (OR: 16.71; <i>p</i> = 0.008) all act as predictors of SCD. <b>Conclusions</b>: 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/1/142coronary artery diseaseintra-abdominal fatretrospective studiescase–control studiesautopsyrisk factors |
| spellingShingle | Timur Hogea Bogdan Andrei Suciu Adrian Dumitru Ivănescu Cosmin Carașca Laura Chinezu Emil Marian Arbănași Eliza Russu Réka Kaller Eliza Mihaela Arbănași Adrian Vasile Mureșan Corina Carmen Radu Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT), Left Coronary Artery Plaque Morphology, and Valvular Atherosclerosis as Risks Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death from a Forensic Perspective Diagnostics coronary artery disease intra-abdominal fat retrospective studies case–control studies autopsy risk factors |
| title | Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT), Left Coronary Artery Plaque Morphology, and Valvular Atherosclerosis as Risks Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death from a Forensic Perspective |
| title_full | Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT), Left Coronary Artery Plaque Morphology, and Valvular Atherosclerosis as Risks Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death from a Forensic Perspective |
| title_fullStr | Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT), Left Coronary Artery Plaque Morphology, and Valvular Atherosclerosis as Risks Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death from a Forensic Perspective |
| title_full_unstemmed | Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT), Left Coronary Artery Plaque Morphology, and Valvular Atherosclerosis as Risks Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death from a Forensic Perspective |
| title_short | Increased Epicardial Adipose Tissue (EAT), Left Coronary Artery Plaque Morphology, and Valvular Atherosclerosis as Risks Factors for Sudden Cardiac Death from a Forensic Perspective |
| title_sort | increased epicardial adipose tissue eat left coronary artery plaque morphology and valvular atherosclerosis as risks factors for sudden cardiac death from a forensic perspective |
| topic | coronary artery disease intra-abdominal fat retrospective studies case–control studies autopsy risk factors |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/13/1/142 |
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