Systematic brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement for cardiac screening in patients with severe obesity: the OLECOEUR study.

Abstract

Introduction Heart failure (HF) diagnosis is difficult in patients with obesity due to cardiovascular and pulmonary comorbidities associated with physical deconditioning that all lead to dyspnea. Methods The OLECOEUR study screens prospectively for HF using systematic brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) measurement in ambulatory patients with obesity from one Nutrition department (Paris, France). Clinical, biological and echocardiogram data were extracted from electronic medical records. Results We included 1506 patients middle aged (mean age: 47.2 ± 14.6 years old) with severe obesity (mean BMI: 40.4 ± 6.6 kg/m²). Patients with BNP ≥ 35 pg/ml presented left heart remodeling including thicker interventricular septum (10.4 ± 2.0 vs. 9.6 ± 1.8 mm; P=0.0008), higher left ventricle mass (89.9 ± 24.3 vs. 77.2 ± 20.0 g/m2; P=0.0009) and significant modifications of both left and right atria in line with a higher proportion of prior atrial fibrillation. Markers of right heart remodeling on echocardiography were also significantly higher (pulmonary artery systolic pressure: 33.3 ± 17.3 vs. 24.5 ± 6.3 mmHg; P=0.0002). Conclusion The OLECOEUR study shows left and right subclinical heart remodeling in patients with obesity screened for HF with systematic dosage of BNP with usual cut-off at 35 pg/ml.