Researchers studied a large group of people, including over 25,000 individuals from the general population and nearly 2,500 patients with suspected heart disease. The study looked at the volume of epicardial adipose tissue (EATV), which is the fat surrounding the heart, and how it relates to heart health.
The findings showed that as the volume of this heart fat increases, so does the risk of heart disease and overall cardiac risk. Specifically, higher levels of this fat were associated with a higher prevalence of obstructive coronary artery disease in both the general and clinical groups.
This type of study shows a link between fat levels and disease, but it does not prove that the fat causes the disease. However, the researchers found that measuring this fat relative to the total heart volume is a useful way to help identify potential risks.
While these results are promising for identifying markers of heart health, they are part of an observational study. Patients should discuss their specific cardiac risk factors and imaging results with their doctors.