ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: This study was designed to identify any associations between left ventricular function and obesity using clinical two-dimensional echocardiographic and Doppler studies. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated 260 consecutive clinical echocardiographic findings. Key echocardiographic variables of systolic and diastolic function were related to various degrees of body mass index. RESULTS: In multiple regression analysis in the whole group of patients there was significant relation of body mass index to left ventricular mass and its indexed value (p < 0.0001). Multiple regression analyses in subgroups of patients according to systolic and diastolic function or dysfunction revealed similarly the strongest association of body mass index to mainly left ventricular mass. In subgroups of patients classified on the basis of their body mass indices significant differences were found also in case of left ventricular mass as well as left atrial volume (p = 0.0001, and p = 0.003, respectively). There was no association between body mass index and systolic or diastolic dysfunction. CONCLUSION: We found strong association between obesity and left ventricular mass. Obesity was not related to systolic and diastolic function or dysfunction.
