Pericardial adipose tissue is an independent risk factor of coronary artery disease and is associated with risk factors of coronary artery disease.

Objective: Pericardial adipose tissue volume (PATV) is related to the mechanism of coronary artery disease (CAD), but its association with CAD risk factors is not clear. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between PATV and its associated factors.

Methods: A total of 682 inpatients were consecutively enrolled in this study. Patients were divided into the high PATV group (PATV ≥174.5 cm; n = 506) and low PATV group (PATV  < 174.5 cm; n = 176). Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the related factors of PATV. Multivariable logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of CAD.

Results: Left ventricular fat volume, right ventricular fat volume, body mass index, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significant and independent risk factors of enlargement of PATV. Increased PATV was identified as an independent risk factor of CAD, and increased pulse pressure was also independently and positively correlated with CAD.

Conclusions: PATV is significantly correlated with the classic risk factors of CAD. Pulse pressure is also correlated with PATV. PATV is an independent risk factor of CAD, and pericardial adipose tissue may alternatively be used in non-invasive diagnostic examination of CAD.