Relationship Between Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and Fragmented QRS

Abstract

Introduction: Fragmented QRS (fQRS) on a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) has been demonstrated as a marker of myocardial fibrosis. The main purpose of present study was to investigate the association between epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and fQRS. Patients and Methods: Study population consisted of 151 patients had fQRS detected on a routine 12-lead ECG and 114 controls without fQRS. EAT was assessed by measuring epicardial fat thickness with echocardiography. fQRS was defined by the presence of various RSR' patterns included an additional R wave (R), notching of the R wave, notching of the downstroke or upstroke of the S wave, or the presence of > 1 R in 2 contiguous leads corresponding to a major coronary artery territory. Results: Patients with fQRS had higher EAT values than those without fQRS (5.9 ± 2.7, 3.8 ± 2.3, p< 0.001). Univariate analyses demonstrated significant association between fQRS and EAT (p< 0.001), hypertension (p= 0.015). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed EAT (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.053-1.938, p= 0.022) and total cholesterol (95% CI: 1.001-1.030, p= 0.037) as independent determinants of fQRS. Conclusion: In the present study, we found higher amounts of EAT in subjects with fQRS. In addition, presence of fQRS was independently associated with EAT.