title: Cardiac Changes in Overweight and Obese Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obesity and overweight are two pathologies that are more and more frequent in the XXIst century diagnosis and are causing high morbidity and mortality rates in the general population, especially through cardiovascular complications.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Identification and early diagnosis of cardiac changes in overweight and obese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We carried out a sectional, analytical and observational study on 111 subjects: 27 normal weight subjects and 84 overweight and obese patients, which were submitted to a clinical exam, biochemical exams and 2D ultrasound.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of diastolic dysfunction is twice more frequent in overweight patients in comparison to normal weight ones (30% vs 15%) and 5 times more frequent in obese patients than normal weight ones (75% vs 15%). The size increase of the interventricular septum is correlated with the body mass index, there being statistically significant differences between normal weight vs overweight vs obese patients, as well as between overweight and obese ones. Within the whole group and within the groups, both the left ventricle mass (g) as well as the left ventricle mass to body surface ratio (g/m²) are statistically significantly higher in patients with present diastolic dysfunction (E/A < 1). This indicates a relation between the presence of diastolic dysfunction, increased left ventricle mass and body mass index (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Overweight and obese patients, unlike normal weight ones, present early cardiac changes, such as: a decrease of left ventricle ejection fraction, diastolic dysfunction, thickening of the interventricular septum, increase of the left ventricle mass both per se as well as in ratio to body surface.
authors.forename: Teodora Gabriela
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Alexescu
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cozma
authors.forename: Adela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sitar-Tăut
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Negrean
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Handru
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Motocu
authors.forename: Nicoleta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tohănean
authors.forename: Codruţa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lencu
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Para
mesh_terms: D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000150:complications*