Journal of Advances in Medicine and Medical Research

Context: Left ventricular structure and mass is related to body composition. Fat mass as well as fat free mass are known to affect the left ventricular architecture.
Aims: Our goal was to evaluate the relationship between body composition and left ventricular morphology in young healthy non-obese males and females.
Settings and Design: This was the cross sectional study done on 100 (51 male & 49 female) physical education college students.
Methods and Materials: Left ventricular structure was analyzed by 2-D and M-mode echocardiography. Body composition was analyzed using bioelectrical impedance analysis.
Statistical Analysis Used: Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise multiple regression analysis between body composition parameters and left ventricular structure was done using SPSS16 software.
Results: In males, end systolic left ventricular posterior wall thickness (LVPWs) showed significant correlation with weight (r=0.348, p<0.05), BMI (r=0.293, p<0.05), BSA (r=0.314, p<0.05) and fat free mass (r=0.284, p<0.05). BMI showed significant correlation with end systolic left ventricular Internal diameter (LVIDs) (r=0.309, p<0.05), end diastolic Inter ventricular septal thickness (IVSd) (r=0.299, p<0.05) and left ventricular mass (r=0.370, p<0.01). End diastolic Inter ventricular septal thickness (IVSd) also showed significant correlation with weight. (r=0.296, p<0.05) No significant correlation was seen in female subjects.
Conclusion: This study showed that the body composition influences some cardiac structural parameters in adult male subjects. However no significant influence was seen in female subjects. Body mass index was shown to have prominent influence on left ventricular structure in males.