Evaluation of pulmonary artery stiffness and right ventricularfunctions by transthoracic echocardiography in obese individuals

This study aimed to evaluate the right ventricular functions and pulmonary artery stifness (PAS) in obese individuals and to compare with healthy controls. The study included 100 obese individuals (BMI>30kg/m2) and 50 healthy controls over 18 years. In conventional echocardiographic evaluation, pulmonary artery diameter, pulmonary artery pressure (PASP) and pulmonary artery acceleration time were measured. In evaluation of right ventricular systolic functions, right ventricular myocardial performance index (RV MPI), right ventricular tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), right ventricular fractional area change (RV FAC), PAS and tricuspid S wave were used. Moreover, left ventricular global strain (LVGS), right ventricular global strain (RVGS), right ventricular free wall strain (RV-FWS), right ventricular fractional area change (RV-FAC [3D]) measurements were performed by using strain echocardiography. PAS value was higher in obese group than controls (26.4 vs 21.0 KHz/sn,), but PASP was similar between the two groups. Among the right ventricular function indicators, only RV-MPI was lower in obese than controls. Tricuspid S', RV-FAC, and TAPSE values were similar between two groups. Shortening of LVGS value in obese was significantly lower than the control group. RVGS, RV-FWS, and RV-FAC (3D) values are similar between obese and controls. In obese individuals, PAS was negatively correlated with pulmonary artery acceleration time, while was positively correlated with pulmonary flow rate, mitral A, tricuspid A, tricuspid S' and PASP. Moreover, among results of strain echocardiography, only RV-FAC (3D) strain values was negatively correlated wtih PAS in obese individuals. Obese individuals may have subclinical right ventricular dysfunction and PAS value can be used to evaluate severe pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular functions in obese individuals.