2.1. Measurements of EAT-V, CAC score and CAD definition on CTA:
EAT-V was measured on the non-contrast CT images using a semi-automated technique on a dedicated workstation (Syngo.via; Siemens Healthcare, Forchheim, Germany). The region of interest (ROI) was manually drawn in all cases by tracing the pericardium in axial sections at 1 cm intervals, from the level of origin of left main coronary artery cranially to the cardiac apex (just below the level of posterior descending artery) caudally. Attenuation thresholds of −30 and −250 HU were applied within the ROI to identify adipose tissue-containing voxels.
CAC score was calculated on the non-contrast CT images using the Agatston method (7) using a semi-automated technique (Application: Calcium scoring; syngo.via, Siemens Healthcare, Forchheim, Germany).
CAD was defined as presence of >50% diameter stenosis in any of the coronary arteries on contrast-enhanced CTA.