Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the association between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness on echocardiography and left ventricular diastolic function (LVDF) in patients with hypertension (HTN). Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 252 hypertensive patients at Nghe An Central Hospital from July 2024 to May 2025. EAT thickness was measured via echocardiography, and LV diastolic function was assessed using Doppler echocardiography. Results: The mean thickness of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) at short-axis, long-axis, and average views was 3.75 ± 1.69 mm, 3.81 ± 1.73 mm, and 3.78 ± 1.65 mm, respectively. Among them, 22.8% had an EAT thickness ≥ 5 mm. The results showed that average EAT thickness increased gradually with age and BMI (p<0.05). EAT measurements at both long-axis and short-axis views, as well as the average, were higher in patients with diastolic dysfunction compared to those with normal LV diastolic function (p<0.05). Conclusion: The study shows an inverse relationship between EAT and LA volume in patients with hypertension (p <0,05). An EAT thickness greater than 6.7 mm was associated with an approximately 3.5-fold increased risk of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction.
