IS SERUM CALCIUM LEVEL AN INDEPENDENT PREDICTOR FOR LEFT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY IN OBESE PATIENTS WITH METABOLIC SYNDROME?

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) and obesity have been increasing rapidly worldwide and are associated with a high risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality. Several studies show strong association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) and LVH (left ventricular hypertrophy). It is known that serum calcium level is linked to obesity. We speculate that increased serum calcium levels in obesity are associated with metabolic syndrome. Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between serum calcium level and LVH in obese patients with metabolic syndrome. Patients and methods: We assessed 171 obese patients (41 men and 130 women), mean age 41.15 +/- 11.47 years, and mean BMI 45.52 +/- 8.64 kg/m(2). Based on current clinical and parac. linical criteria defining metabolic syndrome (MetS) we divided the patients into two groups (107 obese patients with MetS and 64 without MetS) and measured calcium and total protein levels. Left ventricular (LV) mass index (LVMI), left atrial (LA) size and LV geometry were calculated using echocardiographic parameters. Conclusion: Our study showed that serum protein-adjusted calcium is independently associated with LVMI in obese patients with metabolic syndrome.