Publication:

Relation of grades of obesity with left ventricular functions

Background Obesity is a state of excess adipose tissue mass. It is a complex multifactorial condition which poses major risk for serious diet related chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease, hypertension and stroke. Obesity is associated with atrial and ventricular re-modelling; obese individuals have both eccentric and concentric patterns of left ventricular hypertrophy. Obesity adversely impacts cardiac diastolic function. In a large community based investigation, BMI emerged as a key correlate of impaired diastolic filling indexes. The objective of this study was to evaluate left ventricular dimensions and functions in patients with obesity and to find correlation between left ventricular dimensions and functions with grades of obesity.

Methods The present study was a hospital based study conducted in the Postgraduate Department of Internal Medicine, SMHS Hospital of Government Medical College Srinagar and SKIMS Kashmir. A total of 100 subjects of either gender across a spectrum of body mass were taken up for this study.

Results The mean age was 44.7±11 years. Females (56%) were more than males (44%). The subjects were categorized into four groups which include normal BMI (18%) overweight (32%), obese I (31%) and obese II (19%). The mean BMI of our subjects was 26.8±0.3kg/m2. There was no significant change in left ventricular systolic functions. Diastolic abnormality was found in 24% of the subjects. Diastolic abnormalities were more prevalent in subjects with higher grades of obesity 47.4% in obese II and 12.5% in overweight.

Conclusions With increasing grades of obesity, both LV dimensions and volumes were increased and subclinical LV diastolic dysfunction was present in all grades of obesity. Diastolic abnormalities were more prevalent in subjects with higher grades of obesity. Our study provides justification for the idea of obesity as a therapeutic target in prevention of increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases.