Table 1 Baseline patient characteristics

n

61

61

–

Age (years)

54 ± 16

54 ± 16

–

Female

43 (70.5)

43 (70.5)

–

BMI, kg/m²

27 ± 6

27 ± 6

–

LVEF, %

62 [60–67]

66 [59–69]

0.16

LVEDV, ml

121 [108–136]

117 [102–140]

0.99

LVESV, ml

44 [35–56]

42 [33–5]

0.74

Epicardial fat, cm²

5.7 [3.5–9.1]

4.2 [1.3–5.8]

<0.001

Pericardial fat, cm²

13.0 [6.1–26.8]

6.4 [1.6–15.4]

<0.01

CAD

9 (14.8)

0

<0.01

Arterial hypertension

33 (54.1)

23 (37.7)

0.10

Systolic blood pressure, mmHg

127 ± 20

118 ± 16

<0.05

Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg

74 ± 10

71 ± 8

0.18

Diabetes

10 (16.4)

1 (0.2)

<0.01

Hypercholesterolemia

10 (16.4)

13 (21.3)

0.44

Total cholesterol, mmol/l

5.34 ± 1.24

5.18 ± 0.95

0.32

LDL cholesterol, mmol/l

3.26 ± 1.02

3.07 ± 0.95

0.41

HDL cholesterol, mmol/l

1.51 ± 0.49

1.43 ± 0.52

0.51

Triglycerides, mmol/l

4.56 ± 3.38

3.56 ± 1.77

0.05

Smoker

12 (19.7)

14 (23.0)

0.83

Family history of CAD

27 (44.3)

13 (21.3)

<0.05

Duration steroid therapy, months

30 [8–93]

–

–

Daily steroid dose at inclusion, mg

10 [5–30]

–

–

Metabolic syndrome

2 (3.2)

0

0.50

ANCA pos. vasculitis^a

21 (34.4)

–

–

Other vasculitis^b

6 (9.8)

–

–

Collagenosis^c

20 (32.8)

–

–

RA

10 (16.4)

–

–

Sarcoidosis

2 (3.3)

–

–

Others^d

2 (3.3)

–

–