Weight loss decreases progressive left ventricular remodeling: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis

Obesity (body mass index, BMI > 30 kg/m2) is an independent risk factor for incident heart failure (HF). Effects of weight change on cardiac structure have not been extensively investigated in large community-based populations. We hypothesized that weight loss and gain in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) would coincide with changes in left ventricular (LV) mass -- key features in the progression to obesity-related HF. To investigate the association of longitudinal changes in weight on ventricular remodeling, we investigated 2,351 patients in MESA who underwent two serial cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) examinations at initial enrollment (2002) and at follow-up (2011) with available obesity status. Canonical parameters of LV structure and function (height-indexed LV mass, LV volumes, and LV ejection fraction) were measured. MESA participants were classified by obesity status (normal weight: 18.5-25 kg/m2; overweight/obese ≥ 25 kg/m2). We constructed splines for linear and logistic models using generalized additive models to assess the form of the continuous relationship between indexed LV mass changes and weight change qualitatively. Next, we constructed multivariable linear models, adjusted for confounders involved in the pathogenesis of LV hypertrophy that could be altered by weight change, including: glycemic status, hypertension, waist-to-hip ratio, body-mass-index, and biomarkers of inflammation. Finally, the multivariable linear model was adjusted for age, gender, race, income, educational status, smoking, Exam 1 BMI, and height-indexed LV mass at Exam 1. Of the overall cohort studied, 257 individuals (11%) experienced ≥10% weight loss (median 10.2 kilograms) and 194 (8%) had ≥10% weight gain (median 10.0 kilograms). After adjustment for hypertension, diabetes, age, race, and other clinical risk factors, every 10% decrease in weight was associated with a fully covariate-adjusted 3% additional decrease in height-indexed left ventricular mass. Every 10% loss in body weight increased the odds of a 10% or greater drop in left ventricular mass by 50%. Finally, regression models suggested linear decreases in left ventricular mass regression with increasing weight loss, suggesting no threshold effect for weight loss on cardiac remodeling. Weight loss is associated with significant beneficial effects on cardiac remodeling, even after adjustment for baseline obesity-related cardiometabolic risk. There is no threshold for the weight change needed before benefits on cardiac occur, suggesting that any degree of weight loss may be beneficial to the heart.