PCSK9 Expression in Epicardial Adipose Tissue: Molecular Association with Local Tissue Inflammation

Table 1

Demographic, anthropometric, clinical, and biochemical characteristics.

	CVD ()	CAGB+VR ()
Age (years)	, 66.00 (59.00-74.75)	, 68.50 (55.75-77.00)
Male gender (, %)	60, 88.24%	28, 87.50%
BMI	, 27.80 (25.40-30.39)	, 26.00 (24.63-30.57)
WC (cm)	, 105.00 (102.00-116.00)	, 104.00 (102.00-110.80)
EAT thickness (mm)	, 8.00 (5.00-9.00)	, 7.00 (5.00-8.00)
Fasting glucose (mg/dL)	, 93.00 (81.75-107.00)	, 94.00 (79.00-103.00)
Fasting insulin (microU/mL)	, 8.15 (5.87-11.39)	, 8.68 (6.27-12.22)
HbA1c (%)	, 5.41 (4.93-6.04)	, 5.17 (4.06-5.76)
HOMA-IR	, 1.57 (1.12-2.71)	, 1.61 (1.02-2.23)
Total cholesterol (mg/dL)	, 154.50 (134.50-179.80)	, 159.50 (132.80-182.80)
LDL-cholesterol (mg/dL)	, 83.80 (68.20-108.70)	, 92.20 (65.20-115.00)
HDL-cholesterol (mg/dL)	, 43.00 (33.50-53.00)	, 48.00 (40.00-103.00)
Triglycerides (mg/dL)	, 105.50 (74.00-152.50)	, 97.00 (43.00-122.00)
CRP (mg/dL)	, 0.30 (0.10-0.80)	, 0.20 (0.10-0.50)
ALT (U/L)	, 25.00 (15.00-39.00)	, 24.00 (15.00-32.00)
AST (U/L)	, 21.00 (16.00-39.00)	, 21.00 (16.00-31.00)
Smoking (, %)	38, 55.88%	15, 46.88%
Hypertension (, %)	53, 77.94%	25, 78.13%
History of cardiovascular diseases (, %)	25, 36.76%	11, 34.38%
Dyslipidemia (, %)	46, 67.65%	18, 56.25%
Diabetes (, %)	17, 25.00%	2, 6.25%
Aspirin (, %)	48, 70.59%	20, 62.50%
ACEI/ARB (, %)	46, 67.64%	23, 71.88%
Antidiabetic agents	15, 22.07%	2, 6.25%
β-Blockers (, %)	39, 57.35%	16, 50.00%
Calcium channel blockers (, %)	15, 22.06%	6, 18.75%
Statins (, %)	46, 67.65%	18, 56.25%

The table shows the main characteristics of the whole studied population (CVD: cardiovascular disease patients) and the subgroup of patients who underwent either CABG (coronary artery bypass grafting) or VR (valvular replacement). Data are expressed as , median (25th-75th percentiles) or number and proportions. ACEI: angiotensinogen-converting enzyme inhibitor; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; ARB: angiotensin receptor blockade; BMI: body mass index; CRP: C reactive protein; EAT: epicardial adipose tissue; HbA1c: glycated hemoglobin; HOMA-IR: homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance; WC: waist circumference. .