Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (Mar 2018)

Influence of BMI on Cardiac Output and Peripheral Blood Flow in Young Adult Males

  • Sumit Garg,
  • Shitij Arora,
  • Jawahar Lal Agarwal

DOI
https://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2018/25814.11279
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 3
pp. CC01 – CC04

Abstract

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Introduction: Obesity is increasing at an alarming rate in young population which has a direct effect on their cardiovascular health resulting in development of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and peripheral vascular diseases at an early stage of life. Aim: To determine association of BMI with cardiac output and peripheral blood flow in young adult males. Materials and Methods: The study was a cross-sectional study done in Department of Physiology, Saraswathi Institute of Medical Sciences, Hapur, Uttar Pradesh, India, between August to September 2015 under ICMR STS project. A total of 90 males with age 17-25 years with no history of smoking, alcoholism, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular or respiratory diseases were enrolled. BMI (kg/m2 ) was calculated and equal numbers of subjects were categorised into three groups according to BMI (South Asian Standards). Non obese (BMI <22.9 kg/m2 ), Overweight (BMI between 23- 24.9 kg/m2 ) and Obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m2 ). Cardiac output and peripheral blood flow of forearm and calf were measured using Non Invasive Continuous Cardiac Output and Peripheral Blood Flow Monitor (NIVOMON) series. The data were analysed statistically by using one-way ANOVA test. Results: Cardiac output was significantly more in obese group compared to overweight and normal BMI group (5.7±0.43 vs. 5.26±0.54 vs. 4.95±0.65 L/min, p<0.01). Forearm and calf blood flow of both limbs were significantly less in obese group compared to overweight and normal (p<0.01). Conclusion: Obese subjects have increased cardiac output which may lead to cardiac complications like left ventricular hypertrophy and high output cardiac failure in future. Inspite of increased cardiac output, peripheral blood flow was decreased in obese subjects which may be due to endothelial dysfunction and accelerated atherosclerotic vasoconstriction which may result in peripheral artery disease in future.

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