Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41521340›Full record

ArticleCardiovascular ultrasound2026

Relationship between epicardial fat tissue, endothelial function, and coronary flow reserve in coronary microvascular disease patients.

Mengjiao Li, Yingying Huang, Linghui Bai, Wei Li, Chenbo Chu, Hui Liu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Cardiovascular ultrasound, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from 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.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Mengjiao Li *Department of Cardiac Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Yingying Huang *Department of Cardiac Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Linghui BaiDepartment of Cardiac Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Wei LiDepartment of Cardiac Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Chenbo ChuDepartment of Cardiac Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
Hui LiuDepartment of Cardiac Ultrasound, the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China. liuhuidoc@outlook.com.

Funding

Heilongjiang Renxin Bone Health Medical Assistance Foundation 2020HX016the Heilongjiang Provincial Department of Education 12541296
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundCoronary microvascular disease (CMVD) is a major cause of hospitalization for a considerable number of patients with ischemia with non-obstructive coronary arteries (INOCA), with coronary flow reserve (CFR) reduction being the main feature of CMVD. However, imaging methods for CMVD evaluation are still lacking. This study aimed to investigate associations among epicardial fat thickness (EFT), endothelial function assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD), and CFR in patients with CMVD, and to evaluate their predictive value for CMVD diagnosis.

methodsCFR was measured by regadenoson stress echocardiography, while EFT and FMD were measured by transthoracic echocardiography and brachial artery vascular ultrasound in 66 subjects with INOCA. Multivariable logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis were performed.

resultsTwenty-nine patients were categorized into the CFR decreased group (CFR < 2.0), and thirty-seven patients were separated into the CFR normal group (CFR ≥ 2.0). EFT was significantly higher in the CFR decreased group (6.063 ± 1.732 mm vs. 5.95 ± 1.718 mm, P = 0.003), while FMD was significantly lower in the CFR decreased group [4.05 (3.10, 5.40) vs. 5.30 (4.85, 7.30), P = 0.011]. EFT was an independent predictor for CMVD [odds ratio: 5.084, 95% confidence interval: 1.498-17.251, P = 0.009]. A cut-off value of EFT > 5.51 mm predicted CMVD with 90% sensitivity and 71% specificity. FMD was not an independent predictor for CMVD, but when FMD < 4.65%, it predicted CMVD with 60% sensitivity and 83% specificity.

conclusionsEFT and FMD may serve as potential evaluation methods for CMVD in patients with INOCA. EFT was independently associated with the presence of CMVD in this cohort, offering significant clinical diagnostic insights. EFT is a novel independent predictor of CMVD in this specific population, while FMD provides complementary diagnostic value for risk stratification. These non-invasive markers may help to improve risk stratification in patients with microvascular dysfunction.

Indexed as

Coronary Artery DiseaseCoronary VesselsEndothelium, VascularEpicardial Adipose TissueFractional Flow Reserve, MyocardialMicrocirculationPericardiumEchocardiographyEchocardiography, StressFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedCoronary flow reserveCoronary microvascular diseaseEchocardiographyEpicardial fat thicknessFlow-mediated dilation

Identifiers

PMID41521340
PMCPMC12794452

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Registered trials

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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.