The Claim
Higher epicardial adipose tissue volume is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events in middle-aged and older adults, even after adjustment for coronary artery calcium score, with an adjusted hazard ratio of 5.51 (95% CI: 2.33–13.00; p<0.0001) in a cohort of 1,024 individuals followed for an average of 7.3 years.
What the research says
Supports is higher
Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.
These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.
People with more fat around the heart have a higher rate of heart attacks and other cardiovascular events, even when their coronary artery calcium levels are taken into account.
See the scientific wording
Higher epicardial adipose tissue volume is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events in middle-aged and older adults, even after accounting for coronary artery calcium score, with a combined adjusted hazard ratio of 5.51 (95% CI: 2.33–13.00; p<0.0001) in a cohort of 1,024 individuals followed for an average of 7.3 years.
Fat around the heart releases chemicals that cause swelling and damage to nearby blood vessels, making them more likely to narrow or clot, which leads to heart attacks and other serious heart problems.
What the research says
1 studyPeople with more fat around the heart, seen on a CT scan, are much more likely to have heart problems—even if they already have calcium buildup in their heart arteries. The study found these people had over five times the risk.
Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.