Dyspnea on exertion in patients of heart failure as a consequence of obesity: An observational study

Heart failure (HF) is the inability of the heart to fill with or pump out enough blood to meet the body's needs. It is not one single disease, but rather a group of signs and symptoms caused by many different disease processes that have weakened the heart over time and left it unable to pump blood efficiently. Hypertension, diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disorders are few of such disease processes responsible for conditions in HF. Even though, the co-morbidities mentioned above are well-established in the present system of medicine, its association with respiratory risk on obese patients especially in HF, still needs to be explored. The aim of this study is to determine the presence of dyspnea on exertion (DOE) in patients of HF as a consequence of obesity. Strategies to prevent the risk of HF, which would complement the current approaches aimed at Ayurvedic perspective especially, the obesity, its related comorbidities and contributors in the form of information on life-style leading to obesity needs to be focused. An ethical clearance for the project from the same institute was obtained on 101 patients of HF. All patients with ejection fraction <50% having DOE, New York Heart Association category were selected. Those with restrictive cardiomyopathy valvular abnormalities and under psychiatry treatment were excluded. Patients were informed about the project and their written consent was obtained followed by filling the Case Report Form (CRF). Their recent reports of left ventricular ejection fraction were attached along with details of 6 min hall walk test. Analysis was performed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences software, IBM version-17.0. The significant outcomes on lifestyles of HF related to co-morbidities were found.