Impact of obesity on cardiac metabolism, fibrosis, and function

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Pathophysiology

Background:

• Obesity is a global pandemic impacting healthcare systems.
• Obesity is linked to atherosclerotic vascular disease, ventricular hypertrophy, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke.
• Obesity contributes to cardiac dysfunction, adipokine dysregulation, and pro-fibrotic pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review cardiac metabolic and functional alterations in obesity.
• To explore mechanisms of cardiac fibrosis in obesity.
• To focus on atrial substrate changes predisposing to atrial fibrillation.

Main Methods:

• Review of experimental and clinical studies.
• Analysis of signaling pathways involved in cardiac fibrosis.
• Examination of metabolic and functional changes in the obese heart.

Main Results:

• Obesity is associated with cardiac dysfunction and fibrosis.
• Cardiac fibrosis is a key factor in obesity-related atrial fibrillation.
• Obesity-induced cardiac changes are potentially reversible with weight reduction.

Conclusions:

• Obesity significantly impacts cardiac metabolism and function.
• Cardiac fibrosis, driven by obesity, underlies atrial fibrillation.
• Weight reduction offers a potential therapeutic strategy for reversing obesity-related cardiac pathology.