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Obesity and left ventricular hypertrophy

Authoring team

Obesity causes two changes in the structure of the left ventricle:

  • increase in the mass of the left ventricle
  • increase in the left ventricular chamber size

Weight loss in obese patients is associated with significant reduction in the left ventricular mass as assessed by echocardiography.

The increase in left ventricular volume associated with obesity does not reverse as effectively following weight loss.

Recent work suggests that weight loss in obese patients is a better predictor of reduction in left ventricular mass than any concomitant decrease in blood pressure.

Left ventricular hypertrophy is a good predictor of cardiac morbidity and mortality. Reduction in left ventricular mass may account for some of the health benefits of weight loss in obese patients.

Reference:

  • Karason, K. et al. (1997). Effects of obesity and weight loss on left ventricular mass and relative wall thickness: survey and intervention study. BMJ, 315, 912-6.

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