Background:
With the increased prevalence of obesity worldwide, even in young adults with a lack of data on its
effect on cardiac function in these age groups, the need to detect the possible changes in cardiac function with
different degrees of obesity has emerged.
Objective:
We aimed to use 2 dimensional ( 2 D) deformation imaging to evaluate the potential changes in cardiac
function in variable degrees o f obesity.
Patients and
m ethods: Our study is a single center observational study. During the study period between September
2022 and September 2023 , 323 volunteers without evidence of metabolic syndrome in their first decade of adulthood
18 to 30 years of age) with a BMI more than 25 kg/m 2 were evaluated at the C ardiology D epartment Faculty of
Medicine, Benha University. 123 cases were excluded due to the presence of significant valvular disease (n= 53 ), atrial
fibrillation (n= 36 ), systolic heart failu re (n= 27 ), and poor image quality ( 7 ). Finally, the study included 200
patients as follows: O verweight (n= 100 ) and obese ( 100 ). F orty participants were enrolled ( 40 as a control
group Conventional and speckle tracking echocardiography evaluated the right (RV) and the left ventricle (LV)
function and global longitudinal strain (GLS).
Results:
No noticeable differences were detected among the groups regarding conventional functional and
dimensional echocardiographic parameters. However, significant differences between the groups were noticed
regarding 2 D speck le tracking of RV global longitudinal strain ( GLS )), RV free wall strain, and LV GLS (p< 0.001 ),
with worse deformation in obese sub jects.
Conclusion:
Obesity, even in younger ages without metabolic syndrome, is hazardous to LV and RV function,
represented by worse myocardial deformation. This finding could be used in risk stratification of obese young
individuals. |
