BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of intra-left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony in obese versus nonobese subjects without known cardiac disease using Velocity Vector Imaging (VVI). METHODS: One hundred ninety consecutive subjects with no known cardiac disease had their echocardiograms analyzed using VVI after excluding subjects with QRS durations>120 msec or LV ejection fractions<55%. Study subjects were divided into two groups on the basis of body mass index: obese (>30 kg/m2) and nonobese (<30 kg/m2). RESULTS: The final cohort included 136 subjects (74 obese; 32% women; mean age, 55±16 years). The occurrence of intra-LV dyssynchrony was higher in the obese group compared with the nonobese group. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increased prevalence of intra-LV dyssynchrony in obese subjects, especially longitudinal and radial dyssynchrony. This dyssynchrony may signal a mechanism by which obesity predisposes to the development of heart failure.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of intra-left ventricular (LV) dyssynchrony in obese versus nonobese subjects without known cardiac disease using Velocity Vector Imaging (VVI). METHODS: One hundred ninety consecutive subjects with no known cardiac disease had their echocardiograms analyzed using VVI after excluding subjects with QRS durations>120 msec or LV ejection fractions<55%. Study subjects were divided into two groups on the basis of body mass index: obese (>30 kg/m2) and nonobese (<30 kg/m2). RESULTS: The final cohort included 136 subjects (74 obese; 32% women; mean age, 55±16 years). The occurrence of intra-LV dyssynchrony was higher in the obese group compared with the nonobese group. CONCLUSIONS: There was an increased prevalence of intra-LV dyssynchrony in obese subjects, especially longitudinal and radial dyssynchrony. This dyssynchrony may signal a mechanism by which obesity predisposes to the development of heart failure.
Authors: Sage P Kramer; David K Powell; Christopher M Haggerty; Cassi M Binkley; Andrea C Mattingly; Lisa A Cassis; Frederick H Epstein; Brandon K Fornwalt Journal: J Cardiovasc Magn Reson Date: 2013-12-31 Impact factor: 5.364