Left and right ventricular structural changes in obese hypertensives

Blood Press. 2009;18(1-2):23-9. doi: 10.1080/08037050902850226.

Abstract

Aim: Obesity is known to be independently related to left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy (LVH); however, in human hypertension the association of obesity with right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH) is still unsettled. We investigated the relationship of obesity with RVH and biventricular hypertrophy in essential hypertension.

Methods: A cohort of untreated and treated uncomplicated essential hypertensives consecutively attending a hospital outpatient hypertension clinic, categorized in three groups according to body mass index (BMI) thresholds (<25, 25-29.9 and > or =30 kg/m2) was considered for the present analysis. RVH was defined by an anterior RV wall thickness equal or higher than 3.1/3.0 mm/m2 in men and women, respectively, and LVH by LV mass index (LVMI) equal or higher than 51 and 47 g/m(2.7) in men and women, respectively.

Results: A total of 124 patients (37.6%) had normal BMI, 151 patients (45.7%) were overweight and 55 (16.7%) obese. Prevalence rates of biventricular hypertrophy (i.e. LVMI>51 and 47 g/m(2.7) and RVWT>3.1 and 3.0 mm) in the three groups were 7.3%, 21.2% and 32.7%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis, BMI (OR=3.58, 95% CI 1.82-7.03, p=0.0002), was the most important correlate of biventricular hypertrophy.

Conclusions: Our findings extend previous data on the impact of obesity on cardiac structure by showing that this phenotype is strongly associated with biventricular hypertrophy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Antihypertensive Agents / therapeutic use
  • Body Mass Index
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / complications
  • Hypertension / drug therapy
  • Hypertension / pathology*
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / diagnostic imaging
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / epidemiology
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / etiology
  • Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / pathology*
  • Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / diagnostic imaging
  • Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / epidemiology
  • Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / etiology
  • Hypertrophy, Right Ventricular / pathology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Obesity / complications
  • Obesity / pathology*
  • Obesity / physiopathology
  • Phenotype
  • Prevalence
  • Stroke Volume
  • Ultrasonography

Substances

  • Antihypertensive Agents