[Cardiovascular changes in obesity]
1Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin II, Klinikum der Universität Regensburg.
Background:
Obesity is associated with a number of adaptations in the cardiovascular system like arterial hypertension, a hypervolemic circulation or left ventricular hypertrophy.
Pathobiochemical Mechanisms:
The specific mechanisms underlying these sequelae of obesity are not fully understood. Metabolic factors like insulin-resistance or the elevated activation of the sympathetic and the renin-angiotensin-aldosteron system have effects on a number of vascular and cardiac parameters. In addition, elevated serum levels of proinflammatoric parameters like C-reactive protein, interleukin-6 and TNF-alpha are found in patients with obesity. The consequence is a drastic increase of cardiovascular mortality.
Conclusion:
Depending on the fat distribution and the relation between the increase of body fat mass and fat-free mass different effects on heart and vessels are reported. The most important obesity-associated implications on the cardiovascular system are discussed below.
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