Subclinical Myocardial Impairment in Metabolic Diseases

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity are important contributors to nonischemic heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation. There is a 2- to 5-fold increase in HF associated with T2DM, and there is a 5% in HF risk in men and 7% increment in women for every unit increment in body mass index, after adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Likewise, the risk of atrial fibrillation increases by about 6% per unit increase in body mass index. Metabolic cardiomyopathy leads to a number of changes in cardiac structure and function that can be recognized by imaging in the asymptomatic phase, and these parameters can be used for monitoring the progression of disease or the response to therapy. The purpose of this review is to familiarize clinicians with the potential benefits of early detection of preclinical myocardial abnormalities, as well as the mechanisms that might inform interventions to prevent disease progression in patients with T2DM and obesity.