Evaluation of left ventricular rotation in obese subjects by velocity vector imaging.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity is a well-known risk factor in the development of cardiovascular disease. We hypothesize that early left ventricular (LV) dysfunction secondary to obesity could be signalled by abnormal LV rotation.


RESULTS
This prospective study examined 60 subjects divided into two groups: obese group with body mass index (BMI) >or=30 and control group with BMI <25. The peak rotation, twist, and torsion of the left ventricle were studied in obese and control subjects, using velocity vector imaging. Age and gender were comparable between the two groups. Obese subjects had higher BMI, waist circumference, fasting glucose, triglycerides, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lower high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (P < 0.05). In obese subjects, LV mass and LV mass index were increased, and the ratio of mitral early and late diastolic filling velocity was decreased (P < 0.05). In obese subjects, the peak twist and torsion of the left ventricle displayed a lower trend, and the peak rotation of the left ventricle apex decreased significantly (3.81 +/- 2.09 degrees vs. 5.77 +/- 3.27 degrees , P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Obesity was associated with changes in LV rotation. Velocity vector imaging is a feasible and reproducible echocardiographic technique for the detection of early subclinical LV dysfunction.
Deng
Yan
Y
Department of Cardiovascular Ultrasound and Non-invasive Cardiology, Sichuan Academy of Medical Science, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Sichuan, China.
Alharthi
Mohsen S
MS
Thota
Venkata R
VR
Yin
Lixue
L
Li
Chunmei
C
Emani
Usha R
UR
Chandrasekaran
Krishnaswamy
K
Khandheria
Bijoy
B
Mookadam
Farouk
F
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003971:Diastole; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008943:Mitral Valve; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013318:Stroke Volume; D013599:Systole; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left