Obesity related changes in cardiac structure and function: role of blood pressure and metabolic abnormalities

Background:It has been reported that changes in cardiac structure and ventricular function associated with obesity have to be attributable to hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic alterations. Accordingly, the aim of this was to evaluate left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) prevalence and its effect on left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in a cohort of obese patients. Materials and Methods:LV internal diameter (LVID), left ventricular mass (LVM) and LVM/height(2.7)(LVMI), relative wall thickness (RWT), LV ejection fraction (LVEF), E/A ratio, isovolumic relaxation time, deceleration time of E velocity by echocardiography and pulsed-wave Doppler and total circulating adiponectin (ADPN) by radioimmunoassay were measured in 319 obese subjects with and without LVH. Results:Increased values of BMI, WHR, SBP, DBP, MBP LVID, LVM, LVMI, IVST (p < .001), increased prevalence of subjects with LVEF< 50%,(p < .001), central fat distribution (p < .001), hypertension (p < .001), diabetes (p < .001), metabolic syndrome (p < .02), and reduced value of ADPN (p < .0001) and LVEF (p < .001) were detected in LVH obese subjects than controls without LVH. No significant differences in diastolic parameters were observed between the two groups. LVEF correlated directly with ADPN (p < .0001) and inversely with age (p < .01), BMI (p < .01), WHR (p < .001), MBP (p < .01) MetS (p < .02) and LVMI (p < .001). WHR, MBP, LVMI and ADPN were independently associated with LVEF. Conclusions:In conclusion, our data indicate that obese subjects with LVH might be considered a distinct phenotype of obesity, characterised by LVH, increased prevalence of cardiometabolic comorbidities, central fat distribution, hypoadiponectinemia and early left ventricular systolic dysfunction.