Obesity increases risk for LV diastolic dysfunction

10 February 2012

MedWire News: Obesity is associated with an increased risk for left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction independent of cardiovascular risk factors and LV mass, report Japanese researchers.

“Our data raise the possibility that effective treatment of obesity may reduce the population burden of LV diastolic dysfunction,” they write.

Yoko Miyasaka (Kansai Medical University, Hirakata, Osaka) and co-investigators prospectively recruited 692 patients with sinus rhythm who were referred for a transthoracic echocardiography between July and December 2007.

None of the patients had a history of congenital or vascular heart disease, pacemaker implantation or implantable cardioverter defibrillator, myocardial infarction, or impaired LV systolic function.

In total, 538 (78%) patients had abnormal LV diastolic function (early/atrial [E/A] wave ratio ≥0.75), 177 (26%) were overweight (body mass index [BMI] 25–30 kg/m²), and 55 (8%) were obese (BMI ≥30 kg/m²).

After adjusting for age, gender, and clinical covariates, multivariate analysis revealed that obese individuals were nearly three times more likely to have abnormal LV diastolic function than those who were normal weight (odds ratio=2.98).

Adjusting for LV mass did not weaken this association, report Miyasaka et al, suggesting that the excess risk associated with obesity is not mediated by LV hypertrophy. “Other mechanisms may link obesity with LV diastolic dysfunction,” they say.

Overweight was not independently associated with LV diastolic dysfunction.

The team suggests that interventions investigating the effect of weight reduction on LV diastolic dysfunction and cardiovascular risk are needed in the future.

The findings are published in Obesity Research and Clinical Practice.

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Obes Res Clin Pract 2012; Advance online publication