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Morphological and Functional Assessment of the Right Ventricle Using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Relation of regional fat distribution to left ventricular structure and function.
Ian J Neeland1, Sachin Gupta, Colby R Ayers
1Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, and Center for Human Nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; and Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
Circulation. Cardiovascular Imaging
|August 10, 2013
Summary
Central body fat (visceral adipose tissue) is linked to harmful heart remodeling and blood flow changes. Lower body fat is associated with healthier heart structure and function, suggesting body fat distribution impacts cardiovascular health.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Body Composition Analysis
- Cardiac Imaging
Background:
- The relationship between body fat distribution and left ventricular (LV) structure/function is not well understood.
- Understanding this link is crucial for assessing cardiovascular risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body fat distribution and left ventricular (LV) structure and function.
- To determine if different fat depots have distinct effects on cardiac remodeling and hemodynamics.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 2710 participants in the Dallas Heart Study without pre-existing heart failure.
- Assessed body fat distribution using dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry and LV morphology/hemodynamics via MRI.
- Performed multivariable adjustments for age, sex, race, comorbidities, and lean mass.
Main Results:
- Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) was associated with concentric LV remodeling (lower LV end-diastolic volume, higher concentricity, increased wall thickness).
- Lower body subcutaneous fat was linked to eccentric LV remodeling (higher LV end-diastolic volume, reduced concentricity, decreased wall thickness).
- VAT correlated with lower cardiac output and higher systemic vascular resistance; lower body fat showed opposite associations.
Conclusions:
- Visceral adipose tissue is independently associated with adverse concentric LV remodeling and hemodynamics.
- Lower body subcutaneous fat is associated with eccentric remodeling.
- Further prospective studies are needed to clarify the impact of body fat distribution on heart failure risk.
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