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Published on: April 13, 2015

Cardiac mechanics and function in obese normotensive persons with normal coronary arteries

B A Carabello, L Gittens

    The American Journal of Cardiology
    |February 15, 1987
    PubMed

    Insights

    Obese individuals often have altered cardiac loading conditions, with higher preload and afterload. However, their heart muscle contractile function remains typically normal, even with moderate obesity.

    Area of Science:

    • Cardiology
    • Obesity Medicine
    • Cardiovascular Physiology

    Background:

    • Obesity is linked to cardiac issues, but its impact on cardiac loading and function is debated.
    • Co-existing hypertension and coronary artery disease in obesity complicate cardiac function assessment.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate cardiac mechanics and contractile function in obese individuals without hypertension or coronary artery disease.
    • To compare cardiac function between moderately obese and lean subjects.

    Main Methods:

    • Cardiac catheterization was performed on 14 obese subjects (50% overweight) and 12 lean control subjects.
    • Subjects were free of systemic hypertension and coronary narrowing.
    • Preload (end-diastolic stress) and afterload (end-systolic stress) were measured.

    Main Results:

    • Obese individuals exhibited significantly greater preload and afterload compared to lean controls.
    • Ejection fraction, mean velocity of circumferential fiber shortening, and stress-velocity relationships were similar between groups.
    • Contractile function was preserved in all but one obese subject.

    Conclusions:

    • Normotensive, moderately obese individuals present with abnormal cardiac loading conditions (increased preload and afterload).
    • Despite altered loading, cardiac contractile function is generally maintained in this population.
    • This suggests obesity itself, independent of hypertension and coronary disease, affects cardiac hemodynamics without impairing contractility.

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