ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN EPICARDIAL ADIPOSE TISSUE AND CARDIOMETABOLIC DISEASES AT DIFFERENT AGE PERIODS: ADULTS, ADOLESCENTS, NEWBORNS
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Abstract
Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a metabolically active fat depot closely associated with the development of obesity, metabolic syndrome, and cardiovascular diseases. In children and adolescents with overweight and visceroabdominal obesity, EAT thickness significantly correlates with body mass index, waist circumference, and insulin resistance, reflecting its early involvement in the pathogenesis of metabolic disorders. There are a number of prenatal factors that influence epicardial fat thickness in newborns, particularly maternal diabetes mellitus. Adults with increased epicardial fat thickness and volume have a higher risk of hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, and coronary heart disease. EAT promotes inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and the development of atherosclerosis, acting not only as a marker of obesity but also as an active participant in cardiovascular remodeling.
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