Effect of isolated obesity on systolic and diastolic left ventricular function

Abstract

Background: Although "overweight" refers to an excess of body weight and "obesity" to an excess of fat, these two words can be defined in terms of body mass index. The aim of current study was to determine the direct effects of different grades of isolated obesity on echocardiographic indices of systolic and diastolic left ventricular function. Methods: This cross section study on 73 cases of isolated obesity who attended to the department of echocardiography at the AL-Kadhimiya Teaching Hospital. The information was collected using a questionnaire that was filled down through direct interview with patients. In current study, 48 obese and 25 normal weight persons were studied. They had no other pathological conditions.Obesity was classed as slight (body mass index (BMI) 25-29.9kg/m2; n= 17), moderate (BMI 30-34.9 kg/m2; n= 20) or severe (BMI >35kg/m2; n= 11). Echocardiographic indices of systolic and diastolic functions were obtained and dysfunction was assumed when at least two values differed by>2 SD from the normal weight group. Results: Ejection fraction and fractional shortening left ventricular dimensions were increased, but relative wall thickness was unchanged. No obese persons met criteria for systolic dysfunction. In obese subjects, the mitral valve pressure half time and the left atrial diameter were increased; whereas the deceleration slop was decreased, all other diastolic variables were unchanged. No differences were found between obesity subgroups. Conclusions: In persons with isolated obesity, subclinical left ventricular diastolic dysfunction is present in all grades obesity and is associated with an increased systolic function in the early stages.