Epicardial adipose tissue volume is associated with impaired left ventricular strain in patients with metabolic syndrome: the mediating role of myocardial energetic efficiency

BACKGROUND: Epicardial adipose tissue volume (EATV) has been linked to cardiac dysfunction in metabolic syndrome (MetS), but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether myocardial energetic efficiency partially explains the relationship between EATV and impaired left ventricular (LV) myocardial strain in MetS patients using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). METHODS: A total of 225 patients with MetS and 68 age - and sex - matched controls underwent CMR. LV myocardial energetic efficiency index (MEEI), EATV, and myocardial strain-including global radial, circumferential, and longitudinal peak strain (GLPS)-were measured. Pearson correlation analysis, multivariable linear regression and mediation analysis (bootstrapped 95% confidence intervals) were performed to evaluate the direct and MEEI-mediated effects of EATV on LV myocardial strain. RESULTS: MetS patients exhibited impaired myocardial strain and lower MEEI compared to controls. EATV negatively correlated with MEEI (r = - 0.224, P < 0.001) and with LV myocardial peak strain in all three directions (r = - 0.174 to - 0.332, P < 0.01). Multivariable regression analysis confirmed EATV as an independent predictor of lower LV GLPS (β = - 0.178, P = 0.01) and MEEI (β = - 0.268, P < 0.01). Mediation analysis revealed that approximately 29% of the total negative effect of EATV on GLPS was accounted for reduced MEEI (standardized indirect effect β = - 0.081, 95% CI - 0.137 to - 0.0029, P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with metabolic syndrome, increased EATV was independently associated with impaired LV myocardial strain, with reduced MEEI partly explaining the observed EATV-LV dysfunction association.