EFFECT OF BODY MASS INDEX ON LEFT VENTRICULAR MASS

Background: Increased left ventricular mass (LVM) as determined by 2-dimensioned M-mode echocardiography is a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between LVM and body mass index (BMI) categories in cross section study. Methods: LVM were measured by using M-mode echocardiography in a sample of 160 individuals (male = 71, female = 89) with age ranging from 16-80 years, referred by a physician. Those with a positive history of hypertension (HT), diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD) constituted 82 individuals; the remaining 78 were regarded as a control group negative for cardiac apparent problems. Results: Mean interior ventricular septum diastolic (IVSd), left ventricular posterior wall diastolic (LVPWd) and LVM were increased in cases group (the subjects with one or more of the following illness ((HT), (DM), and (CAD)) compared to normal control. The mean IVSd, LVPWd showed a statistical of significant weak positive linear correlation with BMI while the mean of the left ventricular interior dimension diastolic (LVIDd) and LVM was significantly higher among obese subjects compared to the subjects with normal BMI among the total sample. Among the subgroup of controls, only the LVM retained its positive linear correlation with BMI. Conclusions: LVM was positively associated with BMI and this association seems to be independent of other cardiac diseases associated with BMI.The remaining