Heart rate features among men of working age with obesity and hypertension

Aim. To study features of heart rate of men with arterial hypertension and obesity, to identify factors associated with arrhythmia evolution.

Materials and methods. The study included 3 groups of men (with obesity – 98 men, with excessive body weight – 46 men, with normal body weight – 40 men). The comparative analysis of heart rhythm was performed with Resting ECG and Holter ECG monitoring, blood pressure from daily monitoring, echocardiography, blood lipid spectrum, glycaemia. The adiponectin level was analyzed only for group with obesity.

Results. Obesity in men with arterial hypertension increases the frequency of arrhythmias of atrial fibrillation (AF) type (15.3% vs. 0% in group with normal body weight, p=0.004) and increases the frequency of ventricular premature beats (VPB) (26.5% in group with obesity vs. 10% in group with normal body weight). We were also able to show the relation between arrhythmia and the severity of obesity. Obesity with arterial hypertension significantly increases the risk of various arrhythmias (more than 6 times for AF risk – p=0.004 and more than 5.31 times for frequent VPB – p=0.026. Risk factors for AF are statistically significant with the presence of obesity: left ventricular (LV) and left atrium (LA) dilation, II–III stage of hypertension and low level of high-density lipoprotein (p<0.05). AF risk factors are significant without relation to obesity: left ventricular hypertrophy, dilatation LA, IHD (p<0.05). But there is no relation between ischemic heart disease (IHD) and an increased risk of AF evolution. Also no relation was found between sleep apnea syndrome and arrhythmias.

Conclusion. Men with excessive body weight or obesity in contrast to men with normal body weight have an increased risk of AF and VPB. Factors directly associated with arrhythmias: heart remodeling (hypertrophy and dilatation of the left ventricular, dilatation of the left atrium), advanced stages of arterial hypertension, dyslipidemia; IHD with obesity associated with risk of VPB and doesn’t affect the AF frequency.

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