Myocardial performance index (MPI) is not influenced by increased left ventricular mass in healthy obese men.

BACKGROUND

Notwithstanding its clinical use as a reliable measure of left ventricular performance, little is known about whether myocardial performing index (MPI) is influenced by increased left ventricular mass (LVM) in healthy obese individuals.

AIM

The present study was targeted at investigating the impact of increased LVM on the LV MPI in healthy obese men.

SUBJECTS AND METHOD

Sixty-six normal male subjects were involved in this study. The subjects were divided according to their body mass index (BMI), into group I (BMI=20-24.9, n=37, mean age 33.405±10.277 years) which served as the control group, and group II (BMI=≥ 30, n=29, mean age 39.208±10.214 years). The MPI was determined in all subjects using the following formula proposed by Tei: MPI=IVCT+IVRT/ET. LVM was calculated according to the following Devereux formula as: LVM=0.8[1.04(IVSd+PWTd+LVIDd)-(LVIDd)] +0.6.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in MPI between control subjects and obese subjects with increased LVM (p>0.05). Additionally, there was no linear correlation between MPI and LVM (R(2)=0.0003, p=0.89).

CONCLUSION

MPI is a simple and accurate tool for the quantitative assessment of left ventricular function. Because of its ease of application, cost effectiveness, and reproducibility, this tool could be regarded as a principal measurement for comprehensive hemodynamic studies. MPI values (according to the Tei index) did not vary significantly between healthy obese and morbidly obese individuals, and therefore may have limited utility for predicting cardiac diseases in at-risk obese individuals.