ArticleInternational journal of obesity (2005)2022
Epicardial adipose tissue thickness is associated with increased COVID-19 severity and mortality.
Article in International journal of obesity (2005), 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 10 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
10 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 21 citations in OpenAlex.
- Obesity as an independent risk factor for COVID-19 severity and mortality.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2023Pooled it
- Pericardial Fat Tissue as a Predictor of the Severity of Acute Coronavirus Infection COVID-19.Journal of clinical medicine research · 2025Article
- Addressing Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome in Cancer Patients, from Visceral Obesity and Myosteatosis to Systemic Inflammation: Implications in Cardio-Onco-Metabolism.Biomedicines · 2024Review
- The Role of Epicardial Adipose Tissue in Acute Coronary Syndromes, Post-Infarct Remodeling and Cardiac Regeneration.International journal of molecular sciences · 2024Review
- Correlation between epicardial adipose tissue and myocardial injury in patients with COVID-19.Frontiers in physiology · 2024Article
- Exploring the Network between Adipocytokines and Inflammatory Response in SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Scoping Review.Nutrients · 2023Article
- Effectiveness of a nationwide COVID-19 vaccination program in Mexico against symptomatic COVID-19, hospitalizations, and death: a retrospective analysis of national surveillance data.International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases · 2023Article
- Is There a Relationship Between Epicardial Adipose Tissue, Inflammatory Markers, and the Severity of COVID-19 Pneumonia?Sisli Etfal Hastanesi tip bulteni · 2023Article
- Epicardial fat as a predictor of COVID-19 disease severity: Just a surrogate for obesity or a true independent predictor?Revista portuguesa de cardiologia : orgao oficial da Sociedade Portuguesa de Cardiologia = Portuguese journal of cardiology : an official journal of the Portuguese Society of Cardiology · 2022Article
- Serum Vitamin D Levels Are Associated With Increased COVID-19 Severity and Mortality Independent of Whole-Body and Visceral Adiposity.Frontiers in nutrition · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
21 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundIncreased adiposity and visceral obesity have been linked to adverse COVID-19 outcomes. The amount of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) may have relevant implications given its proximity to the heart and lungs. Here, we explored the role of EAT in increasing the risk for COVID-19 adverse outcomes.
methodsWe included 748 patients with COVID-19 attending a reference center in Mexico City. EAT thickness, sub-thoracic and extra-pericardial fat were measured using thoracic CT scans. We explored the association of each thoracic adipose tissue compartment with COVID-19 mortality and severe COVID-19 (defined as mortality and need for invasive mechanical ventilation), according to the presence or absence of obesity. Mediation analyses evaluated the role of EAT in facilitating the effect of age, body mass index and cardiac troponin levels with COVID-19 outcomes.
resultsEAT thickness was associated with increased risk of COVID-19 mortality (HR 1.18, 95% CI 1.01-1.39) independent of age, gender, comorbid conditions and BMI. Increased EAT was associated with lower SpO2 and PaFi index and higher levels of cardiac troponins, D-dimer, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein, and 4 C severity score, independent of obesity. EAT mediated 13.1% (95% CI 3.67-28.0%) and 5.1% (95% CI 0.19-14.0%) of the effect of age and 19.4% (95% CI 4.67-63.0%) and 12.8% (95% CI 0.03-46.0%) of the effect of BMI on requirement for intubation and mortality, respectively. EAT also mediated the effect of increased cardiac troponins on myocardial infarction during COVID-19.
conclusionEAT is an independent risk factor for severe COVID-19 and mortality independent of obesity. EAT partly mediates the effect of age and BMI and increased cardiac troponins on adverse COVID-19 outcomes.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.