{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,11]],"date-time":"2025-10-11T02:46:35Z","timestamp":1760150795585,"version":"build-2065373602"},"reference-count":30,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,31]],"date-time":"2023-12-31T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1703980800000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Policlinico Riuniti di Foggia"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["JCM"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: this study aimed to assess the complex relationship between EAT thickness, as measured with echocardiography, and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD). We investigated whether individuals with higher EAT thickness underwent coronary revascularization. Subsequently, we conducted a three-year follow-up to explore any potential modifications in EAT depots post-angioplasty. Methods: we conducted a prospective and retrospective cross-sectional observational study involving 150 patients consecutively referred for acute coronary syndrome, including ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), and unstable angina. Upon admission (T0), all patients underwent coronary angiography to assess the number of pathologic coronary vessels. Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) was performed based on angiogram results if indicated. The sample was categorized into two groups: non-revascularized (no-PTCA) and revascularized (PTCA). Transthoracic echocardiograms to measure epicardial fat thickness were conducted at admission (T0) and after a 3-year follow-up (T1). Results and conclusions: findings revealed a positive correlation between EAT thickness and the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD), with patients undergoing PTCA showing decreased EAT thickness after three years. Echocardiography demonstrated reliability in assessing EAT, offering potential for risk stratification. The study introduces a cut-off value of 0.65 cm as a diagnostic tool for cardiovascular risk. Incorporating EAT measurements into clinical practice may lead to more precise risk stratification and tailored treatment strategies, ultimately reducing the burden of cardiovascular disease.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm13010247","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,31]],"date-time":"2023-12-31T06:00:21Z","timestamp":1704002421000},"page":"247","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Exploring the Relationship between Epicardial Fat Thickness and Coronary Revascularization: Implications for Cardiovascular Health"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"13","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0559-2917","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonino Davide","family":"Romano","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti 71122 Foggia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4954-1521","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonella","family":"La Marca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti 71122 Foggia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-9875-019X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rosanna","family":"Villani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti 71122 Foggia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0936-8843","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Moris","family":"Sangineto","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti 71122 Foggia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Vincenzo","family":"Manuppelli","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cardiology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti, 71122 Foggia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Natale Daniele","family":"Brunetti","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Cardiology Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti, 71122 Foggia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gianluigi","family":"Vendemiale","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti 71122 Foggia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6424-7841","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Gaetano","family":"Serviddio","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Internal Medicine and Liver Unit, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Foggia, Policlinico Riuniti 71122 Foggia, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2023,12,31]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1064","DOI":"10.1093\/cvr\/cvx096","article-title":"Adipose tissue depots and inflammation: Effects on plasticity and resident mesenchymal stem cell function","volume":"113","author":"Badimon","year":"2017","journal-title":"Cardiovasc. 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