What is the clinical evidence from this study?

Study design: Observational. Population: Cardiovascular disease (n=101). Intervention: Periaortic adipose tissue (PAAT) assessment. Primary outcome: Number of vulnerable plaques in the thoracic aorta (β 0.04, 95% CI 0.011-0.06, p=0.005).

What question did this study set out to answer?

The research aims to determine the relationship between periaortic adipose tissue and aortic vulnerable plaques in cardiovascular disease.

April 1, 2026Open Access

Association between Periaortic Adipose Tissue on Computed Tomography and Aortic Vulnerable Plaques Evaluated by Non-Obstructive General Angioscopy

Key Result

Periaortic adipose tissue volume index was independently associated with an increased number of vulnerable plaques in the thoracic aorta (β 0.04, P=0.005) in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Key Points

The research aims to determine the relationship between periaortic adipose tissue and aortic vulnerable plaques in cardiovascular disease.
Analyzed periaortic adipose tissue via computed tomography images.
Identified aortic vulnerable plaques using non-obstructive general angioscopy.
Focused on patients diagnosed with cardiovascular disease.
Found a significant association between increased periaortic adipose tissue and the presence of vulnerable plaques.
Indicated that higher PAAT levels may correlate with greater plaque instability.

Study Design

Type

Observational (n=101)

Multicenter

Structured PICO

Does higher periaortic adipose tissue volume index increase the number of aortic vulnerable plaques in patients with cardiovascular disease?

Population

Patients with cardiovascular disease who underwent coronary angiography with non-obstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) of the aorta and thoracic/abdominal computed tomography (CT)

Intervention

Higher periaortic adipose tissue volume index (PAAT-I) measured by CT

Outcome

Number of aortic vulnerable plaques (ruptured plaques, ulcerations, and thrombi) identified by NOGAsurrogate

Higher periaortic adipose tissue volume is independently associated with an increased number of aortic vulnerable plaques, suggesting it may play a role in aortic plaque instability.

Main Result

Effect estimate: β 0.04 (95% CI 0.011-0.06)

p-value: p=0.005

Limitations

Single-center, retrospective study with a relatively small sample size.
Study population consisted of high-risk patients undergoing coronary angiography, limiting generalizability.
Limited pathological validation of the relationship between CT attenuation values and PAAT.
Difficult to evaluate PAAT at each vertebral level due to volume extraction method.
PAAT inflammatory characteristics were not evaluated using the fat attenuation index (FAI).
Insufficient evidence regarding effective interventions to reduce PAAT.

Abstract

Periaortic adipose tissue (PAAT) is known to promote atherosclerosis and has been linked to cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, its association with aortic plaque instability remains unclear. This study aimed to assess whether PAAT is associated with aortic vulnerable plaques (VPs) as identified by non-obstructive general angioscopy (NOGA) in patients with CVD.

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Discussion

Authors

Yutaka Koyama

Keisuke Kojima

Yuta Hotsubo

Journals

International Heart Journal

Actions

Institutions

Nihon University

References and Citations

Connected Papers

Building similarity graph...

Analyzing shared references across papers

Association between Periaortic Adipose Tissue on Computed Tomography and Aortic Vulnerable Plaques Evaluated by Non-Obstructive General Angioscopy

Key Result

Key Points

Study Design

Structured PICO

Main Result

Limitations

Abstract

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

Authors

Journals

Actions

Institutions

References and Citations

Citation Network

Connected Papers

Discussion

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