Correlation between body mass index and electrocardiogram parameters in healthy adults

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Background The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a tool to evaluate cardiac function. Its interpretation depends on age, sex and race. Aims to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) and electrocardiogram parameters in healthy adults. Methods We conducted a prospective study that included apparently healthy volunteers aged between 18 and 65 years. Body mass index was calculated and standard 12-lead ECG was recorded for all participants. Subjects were classified into four groups according to BMI: underweight (<18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-24.9 kg/m2), overweight (25-29.9 kg/m2) and obese (≥30 kg/m2). Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated to assess the relationship between ECG variables and BMI. Results One hundred seventy-four apparently healthy volunteers (99 women and 75 men; age ranged from 18 to 65 years) were included in this study. The mean BMI was 26,36 ± 6,04 kg/m² with a minimum of 14,53 and a maximum of 49,27. Twenty-two (12,6%) subjects were in the underweight range; 53 (30,5%) in the normal weight range, 54 (31%) in the overweight range and 45 (25,9%) were obese. The results of our study showed a significant positive correlation between the ECG variables studied and the BMI except for HR and Sokolow index (table 1). Conclusion We concluded that BMI caused a significant modification in several ECG parameters in healthy adults. Increased BMI leads to lengthening of conduction times and ventricular repolarization. Largest investigation on the use of BMI-specific ECG norms is warranted. Table 1 ECG parameters BMI R-value P value HR -0,041 0,590 P wave duration 0,222 0,003 PR Interval 0,200 0,008 QRS duration 0,235 0,002 QT Interval 0,152 0,045 QTcorrected (QTc) 0,150 0,049 Sokolow index 0,102 0,182 Pearson correlation coefficients of various ECG parameters with BMI in the study population (n = 174)