Guang Song1, Feifei Sun2, Dan Wu3, Wenjing Bi4. 1. Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. Electronic address: songg84@163.com. 2. Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. Electronic address: sffecho0120@163.com. 3. Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. Electronic address: 718136089@qq.com. 4. Department of Ultrasound, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China. Electronic address: bi.wenjing@hotmail.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a global disease that is a manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), a special type of visceral adipose tissue, has been proposed to be an independent predictor of visceral adiposity. Both OSA and EAT have a close association with diabetes and coronary artery disease. Whether EAT thickness is associated with OSA is controversial. METHODS AND RESULTS: Several databases were searched from their inception to October 13, 2019. We estimated the summarized weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for EAT thickness in the OSA and non-OSA groups. Then, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between EAT thickness and OSA. The relationship between EAT thickness and OSA severity was also assessed. Nine studies with a total of 1178 participants were included. Globally, patients with OSA had a higher EAT thickness than patients without OSA (WMD = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.73-1.16, P < 0.001). Compared to the non-OSA patients, those with mild, moderate, and severe OSA had a progressively higher EAT thickness (WMD = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41-0.83; WMD = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.50-1.15; and WMD = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.70-1.43, respectively; all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: EAT thickness was shown to be higher in patients with OSA than in patients with non-OSA measured by echocardiography. The increase in the EAT thickness was associated with OSA severity.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a global disease that is a manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), a special type of visceral adipose tissue, has been proposed to be an independent predictor of visceral adiposity. Both OSA and EAT have a close association with diabetes and coronary artery disease. Whether EAT thickness is associated with OSA is controversial. METHODS AND RESULTS: Several databases were searched from their inception to October 13, 2019. We estimated the summarized weighted mean difference (WMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for EAT thickness in the OSA and non-OSA groups. Then, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the association between EAT thickness and OSA. The relationship between EAT thickness and OSA severity was also assessed. Nine studies with a total of 1178 participants were included. Globally, patients with OSA had a higher EAT thickness than patients without OSA (WMD = 0.95, 95% CI: 0.73-1.16, P < 0.001). Compared to the non-OSA patients, those with mild, moderate, and severe OSA had a progressively higher EAT thickness (WMD = 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41-0.83; WMD = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.50-1.15; and WMD = 1.06, 95% CI: 0.70-1.43, respectively; all P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: EAT thickness was shown to be higher in patients with OSA than in patients with non-OSA measured by echocardiography. The increase in the EAT thickness was associated with OSA severity.