The Relationship Between Epicardial Fat Tissue and Cardiac Function in HFpEF Patients

The Relationship Between Epicardial Fat Tissue and Cardiac Function in HFpEF

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) refers to a group of symptoms and signs of heart failure, normal or near-normal left ventricular systolic function (EF>50%), and ventricular muscle diastolic dysfunction and A clinical syndrome characterized by decreased compliance and increased stiffness. The pathogenesis of HFpEF is related to impaired lipid metabolism and inflammation. Epicardial adipose tissue (Epicardial Adipose tissue, EAT) is a kind of visceral adipose tissue. Related studies have shown that extracardiac Membrane fat is related to inflammation markers, cardiometabolic risk and cardiovascular disease.However, there is still no research investigating the the relationship between epicardial fat thickness and Cardiac Function in HFpEF patients.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Detailed Description

Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) refers to a group of symptoms and signs of heart failure, normal or near-normal left ventricular systolic function (EF>50%), and ventricular muscle diastolic dysfunction and A clinical syndrome characterized by decreased compliance and increased stiffness. The pathogenesis of HFpEF is related to impaired lipid metabolism and inflammation. Epicardial adipose tissue (Epicardial Adipose tissue, EAT) is a kind of visceral adipose tissue, which is composed of adipose tissue deposited between the myocardium and the visceral layer of the pericardium. It is closely adjacent to the coronary arteries and myocardium. Related studies have shown that extracardiac Membrane fat is related to inflammation markers, cardiometabolic risk and cardiovascular disease.However, there is still no research investigating the the relationship between epicardial fat thickness and Cardiac Function in HFpEF patients. This study intends to observe the relationship between epicardial fat thickness and left and right functions in patients with HFpEF, and evaluate whether epicardial fat thickness can be used as an indicator of left and right dysfunction.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 1083

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• China
  • Chongqing, China
    • The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Heart failure patients with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF)

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult aged >=18years old;
• Diagnosed with HFpEF.

Diagnostic criteria including:

1. left ventricular ejection fraction ≥50%；
2. with the symptoms and/or signs of heart failure；
3. BNP≥35 pg/mL and/or NTproBNP≥125 pg/mL；
4. at least one additional criterion: relevant structural heart disease(LVH and/or LAE) or diastolic dysfunction

Exclusion Criteria:

• LVEF less than 45% at any time;
• Severe liver failure;
• Primary pulmonary hypertension;
• Age <18 years old.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Epicardial Fat Tissue	Epicardial Fat Tissue by cardiac color Doppler ultrasound	On admission
Cardiac Function	Left ventricular diastolic function and right ventricular systolic function by cardiac color Doppler ultrasound	On admission
Composite Endpoint of Worsening Heart Failure Event and Cardiovascular Death	Composite Endpoint of Worsening Heart Failure Event and Cardiovascular Death	From date of discharge until the date of first worsening HF event or date of death, whichever came first, assessed up to 5 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Worsening HF Event	Worsening Heart Failure Event	From date of discharge until the date of first worsening HF event or date of death, whichever came first, assessed up to 5 years
CV Death	Cardiovascular Death	From date of discharge until the date of death, whichever came first, assessed up to 10 years
All-cause Death	Death from any causes	From date of discharge until the date of death, whichever came first, assessed up to 10 years

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Dongying Zhang
• Investigators: Study Director: Dongying Zhang, doctor, First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 12, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 10, 2025
• Study Completion (Actual): December 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: September 26, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: September 26, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): October 6, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): January 6, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: December 31, 2025
• Last Verified: December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Cardiac Function; Epicardial Adipose tissue
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Heart Diseases; Cardiovascular Diseases; Heart Failure
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2020-09

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No