Body fat, especially visceral fat, is associated with electrocardiographic measures of sympathetic activation.
OBJECTIVE
Obesity is associated with sympathetic activation, but the role of different fat depots is unclear. The association between body fat, specifically visceral fat, and electrocardiographic measures of sympathetic activation in a population with structurally normal hearts was investigated.


METHODS
In this cross-sectional baseline analysis of the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity study, body fat percentage was assessed with BIA and abdominal subcutaneous (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) with magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Mean heart rate (HR) and five other electrocardiographic measures of sympathetic activation were calculated. We performed multivariate linear regression analyses.


RESULTS
In 868 participants with a mean age(SD) of 55(6) years, BMI of 26(4) kg/m(2) , 47% men, body fat was associated with HR and two other measures of sympathetic activation. Per sex-specific SD total body fat, the difference in HR was 1.9 beats/min (95% CI: 1.0, 2.9; P < 0.001) and per SD waist circumference 2.1 beats/min (95% CI: 1.3, 2.9; P < 0.001). The difference in HR per SD VAT was 2.1 beats/min (95% CI: 1.3, 3.0; P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Body fat, especially visceral fat, was associated with electrocardiographic measures of sympathetic activation. Our study implies that already before the onset of cardiovascular disease, excess (visceral) body fat is associated with sympathetic activation.
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, the Netherlands.
Stefanie
S
Hillebrand
Renée
R
de Mutsert
Tim
T
Christen
Arie C
AC
Maan
J Wouter
JW
Jukema
Hildo J
HJ
Lamb
Albert
A
de Roos
Frits R
FR
Rosendaal
Martin
M
den Heijer
Cees A
CA
Swenne
D015992:Body Mass Index; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D050152:Intra-Abdominal Fat / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016014:Linear Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009426:Netherlands; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires