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Effects of weight loss on ventricular systolic and diastolic functions and left ventricular mass assessed by tissue doppler imaging in obese geriatric women: preliminary report

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Abstract

Background and aims: Obesity is one of the most common diseases in the world. Particularly in elderly subjects, the effects of weight loss on cardiac functions have not been previously investigated by means of pulsed wave tissue doppler imaging (PWTDI). Using PWTDI, we examined the effects of weight loss on cardiac functions and left ventricular (LV) mass in obese geriatric women. Methods: Thirteen obese women aged 66–83 years (mean age 71.2±4.9 yrs) with a body mass index 35.&49 kg/m2 (mean body mass index 39.9±4.3 kg/m2) were evaluated by echocardiography and PWTDI. Only subjects with uncomplicated obesity were included. All measurements, including anthropometric variables, systolic and diastolic indices, and LV mass, were made before and after a 6-month Orlistat plus hypocaloric diet. Myocardial systolic wave (Sm) velocity, isovolumic acceleration (IVA), myocardial precontraction time (PCTm) and the PCTm to contraction time (CTm) ratio were calculated as systolic indices. Early diastolic wave (Em), late diastolic wave (Am), Em to Am ratio, myocardial relaxation time (RTm), deceleration time (DT) and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) were determined as diastolic measurements. Results: Subjects lost an average of 8.4±1.2 kg. LV mass decreased significantly after weight loss (p<0.001). In addition, IVRT decreased significantly (p=0.038). Only RTm decreased significantly (p=0.016), whereas other PWTDI parameters of LV remained the same. In the right ventricle, Sm velocity, IVA, Em, and Am velocities were similar. However, the PCTm to Am ratio decreased significantly (p=0.006), and the Em to Am ratio increased (p=0.04) and RTm decreased significantly (p=0.016) after weight loss. Conclusions: In obese geriatric women, weight loss improves ventricular diastolic functions and decreases LV mass. It also contributes to partial improvement in right ventricular systolic function.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatric Medicine and Ankara, University School of Medicine, Cebeci, Ankara

    Murat Varli MD, Sevgi Aras & Teslime Atli

  2. Department of Cardiology, Ankara University School of Medicine, Cebeci, Ankara

    Sibel Turhan

  3. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Ufuk University School of Medicine, Balgat, Ankara, Turkey

    Gurbuz Erdogan

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  1. Murat Varli MD
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  2. Sibel Turhan
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  3. Sevgi Aras
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  4. Teslime Atli
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  5. Gurbuz Erdogan
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Correspondence to Murat Varli MD.

Additional information

The study was presented orally at the 7th National Congress of Geriatrics in Izmir, Turkey, but not published in full or in part

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Varli, M., Turhan, S., Aras, S. et al. Effects of weight loss on ventricular systolic and diastolic functions and left ventricular mass assessed by tissue doppler imaging in obese geriatric women: preliminary report. Aging Clin Exp Res 22, 206–211 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324798

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03324798

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