Impact of 6-year body weight change on cardiac geometry and function in ageing adults: the SUpplémentation en Vitamines et Minéraux AntioXydants -2 (SU.VI.MAX-2) cardiovascular ultrasound substudy.

Description

The aim of this study was to examine the impact of 6-year body weight changes on cardiac geometry and function in ageing adults. The study sample included 280 participants from the SUpplémentation en Vitamines et Minéraux AntioXydants (SU.VI.MAX) 2 cohort. During the 6-year follow-up, subjects presented moderate increases in weight, waist circumference, body mass index (BMI), percent body fat, cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and in blood pressure. All baseline anthropometric variables were positively associated with the indexed left ventricular mass and the left atrial area. During follow-up, a 6-year increase of 1 kg/m2 for BMI or 1 cm for waist circumference was associated with an increased in indexed left ventricular mass of 2.3 and 0.4 g/m2.7 and with an increase in left atrial area of 0.3 and 0.05 cm2, respectively. Thus, these results suggest that changes in weight and BMI appear to result in changes in cardiac geometry and function in apparently healthy and ageing individuals. Therefore, these findings support the importance of maintaining healthy lifestyle habits to limit weight gain in older adults. In his editorial comment, Jennings G questioned the conclusion of the authors who suggested that increasing body mass was as important as any other contributor to left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients. However, he recognized the importance of obesity prevention because of its important rise across the world and the multiple adverse consequences associated with obesity.