Quantification of peri-aortic root fat from non-contrast ECG-gated cardiac computed tomography

In this data, we present the details of the cross-sectional study from Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan that examined the relationship between three-dimensional (3D) peri-aortic root fat (PARF) volumes, cardiometabolic risk profiles, carotid artery morphology and remodeling. Our sample is composed of a total 1492 adults who underwent an annual cardiovascular risk survey in Taiwan. PARF was measured using images of gated non-contrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) and a dedicated workstation (Aquarius 3D Workstation, TeraRecon, San Mateo, CA, USA). The stratified analyses were performed in order to assess the association between carotid morphology, remodeling and PARF by tertile. For further analyses and discussion, please see “The Association among Peri-Aortic Root Adipose Tissue, Metabolic derangements and Burden of Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic Population” by Yun et al. (2015) [1].


a b s t r a c t
In this data, we present the details of the cross-sectional study from Mackay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan that examined the relationship between three-dimensional (3D) peri-aortic root fat (PARF) volumes, cardiometabolic risk profiles, carotid artery morphology and remodeling. Our sample is composed of a total 1492 adults who underwent an annual cardiovascular risk survey in Taiwan.
Contents lists available at ScienceDirect journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/dib PARF was measured using images of gated non-contrast cardiac computed tomography (CT) and a dedicated workstation (Aquarius 3D Workstation, TeraRecon, San Mateo, CA, USA). The stratified analyses were performed in order to assess the association between carotid morphology, remodeling and PARF by tertile. For further analyses and discussion, please see "The Association among Peri-Aortic Root Adipose Tissue, Metabolic derangements and Burden of Atherosclerosis in Asymptomatic Population" by Yun

Value of the data
Identifying the PARF measures associated carotid remodeling and morphology Provide the novel information about the difference between PARF and pericardial fat. These data can be useful in studies of cardiovascular risk assessment in similar populations, particularly for stroke and carotid artery disease.
The data can be used to compare PARF, pericardial fat and cardiovascular risk in other populations.
1. Data, experimental design, materials and methods

Data
In this present data, we provide the details of the cross-sectional study that assessed the relationship between three-dimensional (3D) peri-aortic root fat (PARF) volumes, cardiometabolic risk profiles, carotid artery morphology and remodeling in a large group of adults. We present the baseline characterics of the samples, the assessment of carotid ultrasound and the association analyses between carotid intima-media thickness, remodeling, plaques and PARF by tertiles.

Experimental design, materials and methods
We have established a novel method to quantify the volume of peri-aortic root fat [1]. A total 1492 consecutive subjects who underwent annual cardiovascular risk survey in Taiwan were studied. Multi-detector CT (MDCT) of the heart was performed using a 16-slice scanner (Sensation 16, Siemens Medical Solutions, Forchheim, Germany) with 16 Â 0.75 mm 2 collimation, rotation time 420 ms and tube voltage of 120 kV. In one breath-hold, images were acquired from above the level of tracheal bifurcation to below the base of the heart using prospective ECG triggering with the center of the acquisition at 70% of the R-R interval. From the raw data, the images were reconstructed with standard kernel in 3 mm thick axial, non-overlapping slices and 25 cm field of view. All image analyses were performed on a dedicated workstation (Aquarius 3D Workstation, TeraRecon, San Mateo, CA, USA). Fat tissue was defined as pixels within a window of À 195 to À 45 Hounsfield Units (HU) and a window center of À 120 HU. PARF borders were manually defined by tracing the pericardium on eight axial slices which extended cranially 24 mm from the level of the left main coronary artery. The predefined image display setting of fat was used to discern fat from the remain portions of other tissues of the aortic root level inside the pericardial sac, producing a cap of fat which is not only surrounding the aortic root but also on the top of traditional defined pericardial fat in our previous and Framingham studies [2,3]. The volume of PARF was acquired from the sum of all voxels of fat and a subsequent 3D reconstruction was performed ( Figs. 1-3)