Comparison of clinical presentation, left ventricular morphology, hemodynamics, and exercise tolerance in obese versus nonobese patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Obesity is independently associated with left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and thus may be an important modifier of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HC) phenotype. We examined if obesity modifies the clinical presentation, LV morphology, outflow hemodynamics, and exercise tolerance in HC. In this cross-sectional study, 88 obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 kg/m(2)) and 154 nonobese (BMI <30 kg/m(2)) patients from the Johns Hopkins HC clinic were compared with respect to a variety of clinical and LV echocardiographic measurements. Obese patients (36.4%) were more likely to report exertional dyspnea (p = 0.04) and chest pain (p = 0.002) and had greater prevalence of hypertension (p = 0.008). LV posterior wall thickness (p = 0.01) but not the septal wall (p ≥0.21) was significantly greater in obese patients, resulting in an increased LV mass index (p = 0.003). No significant differences in LV systolic and diastolic functions were observed, but obesity was associated with higher LV stroke volume (p = 0.03), inducible LV outflow tract gradients (p = 0.045), and chance of developing LV outflow tract obstruction during stress (p = 0.035). In multivariate analysis, BMI was associated with increased posterior (but not septal) wall thickness (β = 0.15, p = 0.02) and LV mass index (β = 0.18, p = 0.005), particularly in those with hypertension. Obesity was also associated with reduced exercise time and functional capacity, and BMI independently correlated with reduced exercise tolerance. In conclusion, obesity is associated with larger LV mass, worse symptoms, lower exercise tolerance, and labile obstructive hemodynamics in HC. The association with increased outflow tract gradients has particular importance as contribution of obesity to the pressure gradients may influence clinical decisions in labile obstructive HC.
Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Longitudinal Studies Section, Translational Gerontology Branch, National Institute on Aging, National Institute of Health, Baltimore, Maryland; Division of Cardiology, Research Center of Cardiovascular Biology, University of Genova, Italy.
Marco
M
Canepa
Lars L
LL
Sorensen
Iraklis
I
Pozios
Veronica L
VL
Dimaano
Hong-Chang
HC
Luo
Aurelio C
AC
Pinheiro
James B
JB
Strait
Claudio
C
Brunelli
M Roselle
MR
Abraham
Luigi
L
Ferrucci
Theodore P
TP
Abraham
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002312:Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies