title: Effects of isolated obesity on left and right ventricular function: a tissue Doppler and strain rate imaging study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the subclinical effects of isolated obesity and its duration on cardiac function by using routine echocardiography and tissue Doppler myocardial strain rate.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-nine subjects were enrolled in this study; 29 with isolated obesity defined as a body mass index > or = 30 kg/m(2) with no other cardiovascular comorbidities, and 20 nonobese controls. All subjects underwent two-dimensional and Doppler echocardiography including tissue Doppler imaging and myocardial strain rate.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The average duration of obesity was 12.1 years (4-18 years). Abnormalities of left ventricular (LV) wall thickness, mass, diastolic function, and left atrial size were detected in obese individuals, despite having preserved ejection fractions. The LV global longitudinal peak strain rate was significantly lower in obese subjects compared to nonobese control subjects (1.07 +/- 0.14 vs. 1.38 +/- 0.12, P < 0.001). Using multivariate analysis, the duration of obesity (ss=-0.76, P < 0.001), body mass index (ss=-0.35, P = 0.023), and age (ss=-0.29, P = 0.009) were independent predictors of the decreased LV global longitudinal peak strain rate, while the duration of obesity (ss=-0.66, P < 0.001) and body mass index (ss=-0.28, P = 0.037) were independent predictors of the decreased right ventricular (RV) peak strain rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence and the duration of obesity were associated with impairment of subclinical biventricular systolic and diastolic function. These findings have the potential to increase awareness of subclinical cardiac manifestations in patients with isolated obesity and influence their early management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Siyami Ersek Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Center, Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Orhan
authors.forename: Nevzat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Uslu
authors.forename: Sennur U
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Dayi
authors.forename: Zekeriya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Nurkalem
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Uzun
authors.forename: Hatice B
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Erer
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hasdemir
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Emre
authors.forename: Gultekin
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Karakus
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Soran
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gorcsan
authors.forename: Mehmet
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eren
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004452:Echocardiography; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D019560:Echocardiography, Three-Dimensional; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009929:Organ Size; D012015:Reference Standards; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000503:physiopathology*