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Obesity and left ventricular dilatation in young adulthood: the Bogalusa Heart Study

Lydia A Bazzano1, Suresh N Belame, Dharmendrakumar A Patel

  • 1Department of Epidemiology, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, Louisiana 70112-2715, USA. lbazzano@tulane.edu

Clinical Cardiology
|March 15, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Obesity is a key predictor of left ventricular (LV) dilatation in young adults. This finding highlights the importance of weight management for cardiovascular health in both men and women.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Preventive Medicine

Background:

  • Cardiac enlargement predicts adverse cardiovascular events.
  • Left ventricular (LV) dilatation precedes LV dysfunction and heart failure.
  • Study investigates risk factors for LV dilatation in young adults.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Identify unique risk factors for LV dilatation in young adults.
  • Examine predictors of LV dilatation across different sexes.

Main Methods:

  • M-mode echocardiography used to determine ventricular dimensions indexed to height.
  • LV dilatation defined as top 20th percentile of indexed LV end-diastolic dimension.
  • Logistic regression models stratified by race and sex analyzed CV risk factors.

Main Results:

  • Body mass index (BMI) significantly predicted LV dilatation in both men and women.
  • Higher BMI was associated with increased odds of LV dilatation.
  • Triglyceride levels predicted LV dilatation in men but not in women.

Conclusions:

  • Obesity (indicated by BMI) is the most consistent predictor of LV dilatation in young adults.
  • Triglyceride levels are a significant predictor of LV dilatation in men only.
  • Findings emphasize the role of obesity in early cardiac changes.
Abstract

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