Figure 1.

Association between pro-atherogenic factors and epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) thickness in patients > 18 years of age with coronary artery disease, or non-ischemic patients who displayed a variable number of cardiovascular risk factors, and in whom heart disease was suspected (n = 40). EAT thickness mean values are presented in patients: stratified by pro-atherogenic biomarkers (nitric oxide [NO], soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 [sICAM-1], malondialdehyde [MDA], flow-mediated dilation [FMD], and carotid intima media thickness [CIMT]) at calculated cut-off values to best discriminate CIMT≥1 (according to receiver operating characteristic curve analysis); and stratified by presence or absence of clinical-demographic variables associated with cardiovascular risk (age, smoking status, dyslipidaemia, type2 diabetes mellitus [T2DM], and Framingham score [FS]). *Statistically significant between-group difference (P < 0.05; Student's t-test or Mann–Whitney U-test [2-tailed] as appropriate). Box-whisker plots showing median (black horizontal line) with 25th and 75th percentiles (box extremities) and minimum and maximum values (error bars).