Associations between epicardial, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissue with diastolic function in men with and without HIV

Abstract

Background: People with HIV (PWH) are at greater risk for diastolic dysfunction compared with persons without HIV (PWOH). An increase in visceral adipose tissue is common among PWH and greater visceral adipose tissue is associated with diastolic dysfunction among PWOH. We investigated associations of visceral adipose tissue, subcutaneous adipose tissue, and other fat depots with subclinical diastolic dysfunction among men with and without HIV (MWH and MWOH). Design: Cross-sectional analysis of MWH and MWOH in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS). Methods: Participants underwent echocardiography for diastolic dysfunction assessment and CT scanning including subcutaneous, visceral, epicardial, and liver adiposity measurements. Diastolic dysfunction was defined by characterizing heart function on antiretroviral therapy0 criteria. Odds for diastolic dysfunction with each measure of adiposity were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. Results: Among 403 participants (median age 57, 55% white, median BMI 26 kg/m2), 25% met criteria for diastolic dysfunction and 59% MWH (82% undetectable plasma HIV RNA). Greater epicardial adipose tissue area was associated with higher odds of diastolic dysfunction [odds ratio:1.54 per SD; 95%confidence interval (CI) 1.15–2.05] when adjusted for demographics, HIV serostatus, and cardiovascular risk factors. This association did not differ by HIV serostatus and persisted when excluding MWH who were not virally suppressed. Less subcutaneous adipose tissue was associated with higher odds of diastolic dysfunction. Other adipose depots were not associated with diastolic dysfunction. Conclusion: Greater epicardial adipose tissue and less subcutaneous adipose tissue were associated with diastolic dysfunction, regardless of HIV serostatus and viral suppression. Greater epicardial adipose tissue and less subcutaneous adipose tissue observed among PWH may contribute to risk for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction in this population.