The Impact of Obesity in Heart Failure

Salvatore Carbone1, Carl J Lavie2, Andrew Elagizi2

  • 1Department of Kinesiology & Health Sciences, College of Humanities & Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1020 W Grace St, 500 Academic Centre, Room 113c, Richmond, VA 23220, USA; Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology, VCU Pauley Heart Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 1200 E Broad St, Richmond, VA 23219, USA.

Heart Failure Clinics
|November 19, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Obesity is a global health issue impacting heart function. Interestingly, overweight and obese heart failure patients show better short-term outcomes, influenced by fitness levels.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Obesity is a global epidemic with significant health consequences.
  • Overweight and obesity negatively affect cardiac structure and function, impacting both systolic and diastolic ventricular performance.
  • Existing research indicates an 'obesity paradox' in heart failure populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the relationship between obesity, cardiorespiratory fitness, and prognosis in heart failure patients.
  • To examine the implications of body composition and fitness on therapeutic strategies for heart failure.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of large heart failure cohorts.
  • Review of existing studies and meta-analyses.
  • Investigation of the impact of cardiorespiratory fitness on patient outcomes.

Main Results:

  • Overweight and obese individuals with heart failure demonstrated a better short- and medium-term prognosis compared to lean patients.
  • Cardiorespiratory fitness significantly influences the observed obesity paradox in heart failure.
  • Therapeutic considerations for lean patients may differ from those with obesity.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiorespiratory fitness is a critical factor modulating the prognosis in overweight and obese heart failure patients.
  • Weight management and fitness interventions require tailored approaches based on patient body composition.
  • Further research is needed to optimize prevention and treatment strategies for heart failure considering obesity and fitness.

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