Cardiac function and atrial conduction time in morbid obesity: Insights from an echocardiographic case-control study

Abstract

Background: Obesity, especially morbid obesity, is linked to increased cardiovascular risk, including potential abnormalities in atrial conduction and changes in cardiac structure. This study examines the impact of morbid obesity on atrial conduction time (ACT) and associated echocardiographic parameters.

Methods: This case-control study involved 100 patients from Imam Hossein Hospital, Tehran, including 50 with morbid obesity and 50 with normal BMI. Demographic, clinical, and echocardiographic data were collected. ACT was measured, and echocardiographic parameters including left atrial septum thickness, posterior wall thickness, and mitral valve peak early diastolic velocity (MV.PAV.1) were evaluated.

Results: The morbid obesity group exhibited significantly prolonged ACT (p = 0.007) compared to the normal BMI group, indicating impaired atrial conduction. Echocardiographic analysis revealed that left atrial septum thickness (0.90 ± 0.05 vs. 0.85 ± 0.07, p = 0.012), posterior wall thickness (0.84 ± 0.05 vs. 0.80 ± 0.03, p = 0.034), and MV.PAV.1 (73.68 ± 17.67 vs. 61.35 ± 14.44, p = 0.029) were significantly higher in the morbid obesity group compared to the normal BMI group.

Conclusions: Morbid obesity is associated with prolonged ACT and increased echocardiographic measurements of left atrial septum thickness, posterior wall thickness, and MV.PAV.1. These findings suggest that morbid obesity adversely affects atrial conduction and cardiac structure, highlighting the need for targeted cardiovascular risk management in obese patients.