[Cardiovascular changes in obesity].
BACKGROUND
Obesity is associated with a number of adaptations in the cardiovascular system like arterial hypertension, a hypervolemic circulation or left ventricular hypertrophy.
The specific mechanisms underlying these sequelae of obesity are not fully understood. Metabolic factors like insulin-resistance or the elevated activation of the sympathetic and the renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system have effects on a number of vascular and cardiac parameters. In addition, elevated serum levels of proinflammatoric parameters like C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha are found in patients with obesity. The consequence is a drastic increase of cardiovascular mortality.


CONCLUSIONS
Depending on the fat distribution and the relation between the increase of body fat mass and fat-free mass different effects on heart and vessels are reported. The most important obesity-associated implications on the cardiovascular system are discussed below.
Kaiser
T
T
Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum der Universität Regensburg.
Schunkert
H
H
D001823:Body Composition / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000503:physiopathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000097:blood; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D018836:Inflammation Mediators