Evaluation of epicardial adipose tissue by echocardiography and its correlation with aortic velocity propagation and carotid intima-media thickness in patients of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Abstract

Epicardial fat thickness (EFT) is associated with aortic stiffness in diabetic patients. In this study, we aimed to determine if there is an association among the parameters of EFT, aortic velocity propagation (AVP), and carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) in patients with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. This study included 55 non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients and 40 non-diabetic control patients. For all participants, EFT and AVP were determined by echocardiographic method and CIMT was calculated using an ultrasonographic exam. The EFT and CIMT values were found to be significantly increased in the non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus group. On the other hand, aortic velocity propagation was decreased in the non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus group compared to non-diabetic patients (EFT; 8.43 ± 1.68 versus 6.36 ± 2.21 mm, p < 0.001; CIMT; 0.92 ± 0.24 versus 0.58 ± 0.18 mm, p < 0.001; and AVP; 28.20 ± 16.02 versus 58.10 ± 17.50, p < 0.01, respectively). Significantly higher EFT and CIMT values were found in addition to lower AVP values in non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients. Moreover, we demonstrated that there was a strong correlation between EFT, CIMT, and AVP.