title: Left ventricular mass and function in young obese women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity is associated with a high mortality rate due to cardiovascular disease. Left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy has been described in relation to obesity. The aim of this study was to evaluate echocardiographically the LV mass and function in young obese women as compared to lean women with similar characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighty-two young women (< or =40 y), with obesity degree varying from I to III (BMI from 30 to 50 kg/m2) were compared to eighty young lean women. All of them were normotensive, none had cardiovascular complaints or any previous history of pulmonary disease, and none were taking any medication. The LV mass was calculated by the Devereux and Reichek formula.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The LV mass was strongly increased in all obese groups (P<0.00003 to 0.000005) compared to lean subjects. LV mass adjusted indexes for height, BMI or volume were also increased compared to lean subjects and when adjusted for weight it was decreased. However when comparing LV mass/body surface area index this difference was not statistically significant. The linear regression analysis showed a strong association between the degree of obesity and LV mass, (r=0.52, P<0.001). Systolic and diastolic function in obese patients were similar to lean subjects, except for a lower E/A ratio in the obese group (P=0.005).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In asymptomatic young obese women, there are some echocardiographic findings suggesting early cardiac involvement that seems to be related to the degree of obesity.
authors: Unit of Cardiology and Cardiovascular Surgery, Fundação Bahiana de Cardiologia Salvador, Brazil.
authors: L L
authors: LL
authors: Crisostomo
authors: L M
authors: LM
authors: Araújo
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Câmara
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Carvalho
authors: F A
authors: FA
authors: Silva
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vieira
authors: C M
authors: CM
authors: Mendes
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Rabelo Junior
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009767:Obesity, Morbid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*