Key Points
- To evaluate the subclinical impact of isolated obesity and its duration on left and right ventricular function using standard echocardiography and tissue Doppler myocardial strain rate imaging.
- Enrolled 49 participants, comprising 29 individuals with isolated obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m² without cardiovascular comorbidities) and 20 nonobese controls.
- Assessed cardiac structure and performance using two-dimensional echocardiography, Doppler echocardiography, and tissue Doppler myocardial strain rate imaging.
- Left ventricular global longitudinal peak strain rate was significantly lower in obese subjects compared to nonobese controls (1.07 ± 0.14 vs. 1.38 ± 0.12, P < 0.001) despite preserved ejection fractions.
- Duration of obesity independently predicted reductions in left ventricular strain rate (β = -0.76, P < 0.001) and right ventricular peak strain rate (β = -0.66, P < 0.001) on multivariate analysis.
- Body mass index independently predicted decreased left ventricular strain rate (β = -0.35, P = 0.023) and right ventricular peak strain rate (β = -0.28, P = 0.037).
Structured PICO
Does isolated obesity impair subclinical biventricular systolic and diastolic function in subjects without other cardiovascular comorbidities?
PPopulation49 subjects; 29 with isolated obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²) with no other cardiovascular comorbidities, and 20 nonobese controls.
IInterventionIsolated obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m²)
CComparatorNonobese controls
OOutcomeSubclinical effects on cardiac function assessed by routine echocardiography and tissue Doppler myocardial strain rate (including LV global longitudinal peak strain rate)surrogate
Isolated obesity and its duration are independently associated with subclinical impairment of biventricular systolic and diastolic function, highlighting the potential value of early echocardiographic screening.