The authors analyzed left ventricular systolic and diastolic function of normally obese, uncomplicated, nondiabetic, normotensive subjects by using multiple echo Doppler indices. They evaluated 60 obese individuals with a body mass index (BMI) of 35kg/m² and a control group (BMI = 24kg/m²) of 39 subjects. Our results show that obese group was associated with an increased systolic blood pressure, increased left ventricular mass and augmented systolic circumferencial wall stress. Filling abnormalities were observed with impairment of relaxation prolonged isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) and augmented atrial contribution represent an early index of cardiac dysfunction when systolic performance is still normal. Obesity is generally a chronic condition and echocardiography as a noninvasive method can be used for repeated assessment of cardiac performance.
Obesity; Echodopplercardiography; Cardiac indices; Left ventricular mass; Diastolic dysfunction
