Impact of Overweight and Obesity on Left Ventricular Diastolic Function and Value of Tissue Doppler Echocardiography

BACKGROUND Diastolic dysfunction is a common cause of heart failure with preserved systolic function in obese patients. OBJECTIVE To assess diastolic function in a series of overweight and obese patients using conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiography. SETTING AND METHOD University hospital; left ventricular diastolic function was evaluated in 99 patients (mean age 61.59 ± 13.9 years); body mass index and waist circumference were assessed, and patients were subdivided into three groups according to their body mass index (kg/m(2)): [normal, (18.5-24.9); overweight, (25-29.9); obese, (>29.9)]. Peak early (E) and late (A) transmitral flow and peak early (E') diastolic mitral annulus velocities were measured. RESULTS Diastolic dysfunction was significantly higher in the overweight/obese groups compared to the normal body mass index group. The analysis was made with regard to waist circumference and other clinical characteristics, and multivariate regression analysis showed a direct and independent effect of body mass index on diastolic function [OR: 2.75; CI: 1.34-5.67; P = 0.006]. Discussion was made in view of the latest clinical data. Also, an insight into normal weight obesity is presented and discussed. CONCLUSION Overweight and obesity are found to have an independent negative impact on diastolic function as assessed by tissue Doppler imaging.