normal 0 false false false en-us x-none ar-sa microsoftinternetexplorer4 background: epidemic levels of obesity and overweight in today's world are leading to a higher number of mortality and morbidity, especially due to cardiovascular diseases (cvds). body fat distribution contributes a great amount to atherosclerosis formation and therefore increased cvd incidence. the present study used the ...

BACKGROUND Pericardial and intrathoracic fat depots may represent novel risk factors for obesity-related cardiovascular disease. We sought to determine the prevalence, distribution, and risk factor correlates of high pericardial and intrathoracic fat deposits. METHODS AND RESULTS Participants from the Framingham Heart Study (n=3312; mean age, 52 years; 48% women) underwent multidetector CT im...

Pericardial adiposity is strongly associated with increased cardiovascular risk, especially for coronary artery disease. However, until 2010 researchers have not focused on the mechanistic role of pericardial fat in atrial fibrillation (AF) pathogenesis. Only a limited number of studies have reported on the significant association between pericardial fat and AF prevalence, and the role of peric...

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and pericardial fat. BACKGROUND Pericardial fat is visceral adipose tissue that possesses inflammatory properties. Inflammation and obesity are associated with AF, but the relationship between AF and pericardial fat is unknown. METHODS Pericardial fat volume was measured using computed t...

BACKGROUND Pericardial fat has been implicated in the pathogenesis of obesity-related cardiovascular disease. Proposed mechanisms may be relevant in right heart failure, but relationships between pericardial fat and right ventricular (RV) morphology have not been explored. METHODS The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis is a prospective cohort that enrolled participants without clinical car...

BACKGROUND Pericardial fat may be an important mediator of metabolic risk. Correlations with cardiovascular disease risk factors and vascular calcification in a community-based sample are lacking. We sought to examine associations between pericardial fat, metabolic risk factors, and vascular calcification. METHODS AND RESULTS Participants free of cardiovascular disease from the Framingham Hea...

BACKGROUND Pericardial fat has adverse effects on the surrounding vasculature. Previous studies suggest that pericardial fat may contribute to myocardial ischemia in symptomatic individuals. However, it is unknown if pericardial fat has similar effects in asymptomatic individuals. METHODS We determined the association between pericardial fat and myocardial blood flow (MBF) in 214 adults with ...

OBJECTIVE Body mass index (BMI) may not accurately or adequately reflect body composition or its role in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Ectopic adipose depots may provide a more refined representation of the role of adiposity in CVD. Thus, the association of pericardial and intra-thoracic fat with coronary artery calcium (CAC) was examined. DESIGN AND METHODS Nearly 600 whit...

BACKGROUND Obesity represents an important risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). We tested the hypothesis that pericardial fat, a unique fat deposit in close anatomic proximity to cardiac structures and autonomic fibers, is associated with prevalent AF. METHODS AND RESULTS Participants from the Framingham Heart Study underwent multidetector computed tomography from 2002 to 2005. We estima...

Background—Obesity represents an important risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF). We tested the hypothesis that pericardial fat, a unique fat deposit in close anatomic proximity to cardiac structures and autonomic fibers, is associated with prevalent AF. Methods and Results—Participants from the Framingham Heart Study underwent multidetector computed tomography from 2002 to 2005. We estimate...