title: Impact of obesity on cardiovascular health.
abstract: This review examines the impact of obesity on cardiovascular health. We will review first, relationship between obesity and hypertension. Second, we will describe obesity-related subclinical abnormalities in cardiovascular function and structure. Third, we will summarize evidence linking obesity to overt cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Fourth, we will discuss the potential mechanisms underlying increased cardiovascular risk in obese subjects. Last, we will discuss contribution of sleep apnea to the link between obesity and cardiovascular disease. Despite recent progress in understanding epidemiologic and pathophysiological links between obesity and cardiovascular disease, several issues remain to be addressed in the future studies. There is a clear need to identify better markers of obesity-related subclinical cardiovascular damage. Furthermore, we should improve identification of obese subjects at highest cardiovascular risk.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hypertension and Diabetology, Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland.
authors.forename: Marzena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chrostowska
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szyndler
authors.forename: Michał
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: Krzysztof
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Narkiewicz
mesh_terms: D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002320:Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology