Introduction:

For years, Cuba, in its Statistical Health Yearbook, has presented heart disease as the leading cause of death. Associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are overweight and obesity, also identified by the American Heart Association as one of the largest and independent cardiovascular risk factors. Since then, several studies have linked weight gain with modification of the morphofunction of the heart.

Objective:

To describe the modifications of the geometric pattern of the left ventricle and of the cardiac function associated with malnutrition due to excess in subjects from the province of Havana.

Methods:

Seventy-two apparently healthy subjects of both sexes who came to the Calixto García Hospital for a check-up were studied. All underwent anamnesis, physical examination, the percentage of body fat was measured using a bioimpedance equipment; This allowed the subjects to be classified into three groups: N (normal), A (high) and MA (very high) groups and an echocardiogram. The groups were compared with each other through statistical analysis.

Results:

In 23 subjects with a percentage of body fat higher than normal, concentric remodeling of the left ventricle predominated. A higher body fat composition increased the frequency of prolonged relaxation, compromising diastolic function, and the left ventricular ejection fraction decreased slightly.

Conclusions:

In association with the increase in the percentage of body fat, there were morphological changes of the heart, highlighting the concentric remodeling and the deterioration of the diastolic function.

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