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The Impact of Obesity on Cardiovascular Diseases: Heart Failure

Hatem Alansari1, Gina Lazzara1, Mohamad B Taha1

  • 1Houston Methodist DeBakey Heart & Vascular Center, Houston Methodist Hospital, Houston, TX, US.

Methodist Debakey Cardiovascular Journal
|February 24, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Obesity worsens heart function, but weight loss improves it. Paradoxically, obese heart failure patients may live longer, highlighting the need for targeted prevention and treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Public Health
  • Metabolic Disorders

Background:

  • Obesity and heart failure (HF) are prevalent global health issues.
  • Obesity negatively impacts cardiac structure and function, causing ventricular dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the complex relationship between obesity and heart failure.
  • To review pathophysiological mechanisms, the obesity paradox, and weight loss impacts.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of studies on obesity, heart failure, and weight loss interventions.
  • Analysis of pathophysiological mechanisms linking obesity to cardiac dysfunction.
  • Examination of survival data related to obesity in heart failure patients.

Main Results:

  • Obesity leads to cardiac structural and functional changes, impacting systolic and diastolic function.
  • Weight loss interventions (lifestyle, pharmacologic, surgical) improve cardiac function and reduce HF hospitalizations.
  • The "obesity paradox" suggests potentially better survival in obese HF patients compared to normal-weight counterparts.

Conclusions:

  • Understanding the obesity-HF link is crucial for optimizing patient care.
  • Preventive strategies targeting HF in obese individuals are essential.
  • Weight loss interventions offer a viable approach to improve outcomes in obese HF patients.

Keywords:
cardiovascular diseaseheart failureobesityobesity-heart failure paradoxweight loss interventions

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