CARDIOVASCULAR PARAMETERS IN OBESE & NON OBESE INDIVIDUALS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY FROM CENTRAL INDIA

AIMS: Obesity can be classified as generalized obesity (GO) and abdominal obesity (AO) and obese population have higher rates of mortality and morbidity compared to non-obese individuals. This study was undertaken to analyse the differences in certain well defined cardiovascular parameters in obese and non-obese subjects in the age groups of 21-60 years. METHODS A sample of 150 male and 150 female obese patients with body Mass Index > 30 kg/m2 and also 150 male and 150 female non obese patients with body Mass Index of 18.50 – 24.99 kg/m2 were selected.  Parameters such as heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure and pulse blood pressure were assessed. RESULTS: In our study, there was a statistically significant increase in heart rate, systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure in obese subjects when compared to non-obese in all age group. There was a positive correlation between body mass index and heart rate, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean blood pressure and pulse blood pressure. The degree of rise was higher for the systolic blood pressure than the diastolic blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: Although our study is by no means exhaustive, it does provides a glimpse into the variety of adaptations in cardiovascular structure and function that occur as excessive adipose tissue accumulates, even in the absence of overt disease.