Key result
Obesity is linked to ~36% greater muscle sympathetic nerve traffic versus normoweight controls.
Why the study?
Small sample sizes, comorbidities, and subject heterogeneity in previous studies limited definitive conclusions on sympathetic activation in obesity and the overweight state.
Does the obese and overweight state increase muscle sympathetic nerve traffic compared to normoweight individuals?
Meta-Analysis (n=1,438)
Does the obese and overweight state increase muscle sympathetic nerve traffic compared to normoweight individuals?
Absolute Event Rate: 50.4% vs 37%
p-value: p=<0.01
Obesity and overweight are characterized by sympathetic overactivity that correlates with BMI, blood pressure, and lipid profile, but not with glucose/insulin profile.
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Supports targeting sympathetic activity in obese hypertensives; confirms meta-analytic link to BMI and BP.
Grassı et al. (2019) conducted a meta-analysis in Obesity and overweight (n=1,438). Obesity and overweight vs. Normoweight was evaluated on Muscle sympathetic nerve traffic (MSNA) (bursts/100 heartbeats) (p=<0.01). Muscle sympathetic nerve traffic was significantly greater in overweight (43.2 bursts/100 heartbeats) and obese (50.4) individuals compared to normoweight controls (37.0) (P<0.01).
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