Key result
Obesity is linked to ~26% lower radial peak diastolic strain rate in primary hypertension.
Why the study?
Subclinical myocardial dysfunction may develop in patients with coexisting obesity and hypertension despite preserved LVEF, prompting investigation into the association between obesity and CMR-derived myocardial strain.
Does higher BMI associate with abnormal myocardial strain profiles in patients with primary hypertension and preserved LVEF?
Cross-Sectional (n=154)
No
Does higher BMI associate with abnormal myocardial strain profiles in patients with primary hypertension and preserved LVEF?
Absolute Event Rate: -1.17% vs -1.58%
p-value: p=0.001
In patients with primary hypertension and preserved LVEF, higher BMI is independently associated with subclinical myocardial mechanical abnormalities, particularly in diastolic strain rates.
Obesity and hypertension frequently coexist and collectively increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. Subclinical myocardial dysfunction may develop in patients with both obesity and hypertension, even with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This study aimed to investigate the association between obesity and myocardial strain in patients with hypertension using cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). This cross-sectional study included 154 patients with primary hypertension who underwent CMR using 3.0T scanners with steady-state free precession sequences. Myocardial strain (radial, circumferential, and longitudinal) and strain rates were assessed using CMR tissue tracking. Multivariable linear regression evaluated associations between BMI and strain parameters after adjusting for confounding factors. A total of 154 patients with primary hypertension (mean age: 45.09 ± 12.42 years; 41 females, 26.6%) were included. Patients were stratified into groups of individuals with normal weight, individuals categorized as overweight, and individuals living with obesity. Despite comparable LVEF across groups (60.66% vs. 60.45% vs. 58.27%, p = 0.339), the obesity group showed lower absolute magnitudes of PDSR in the radial [−1.58 vs. −1.53 vs. −1.17 1/s, p = 0.001], circumferential [0.92 vs. 0.93 vs. 0.74 1/s, p < 0.001], and longitudinal [0.68 vs. 0.62 vs. 0.53 1/s, p = 0.002] directions. BMI was independently associated with radial ( β = 0.042, p = 0.033) and longitudinal ( β = −0.012, p = 0.023) diastolic strain rates. In patients with primary hypertension, higher BMI was associated with abnormalities in selected CMR-derived strain-rate parameters despite preserved LVEF.
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Du et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Primary hypertension (n=154). Obesity (BMI ≥28.0 kg/m²) vs. Normal weight (BMI 18.5-23.9 kg/m²) was evaluated on Radial peak diastolic strain rate (PDSR) in 1/s (p=0.001). In patients with primary hypertension, obesity was associated with significantly lower absolute magnitudes of radial peak diastolic strain rate (-1.17 vs -1.58 1/s) compared to normal weight, despite preserved ejection fraction.
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