Left Ventricular Function Across the Spectrum of Body Mass Index in African Americans: The Jackson Heart Study.

Objectives: This study sought to assess whether body mass index (BMI) was associated with subclinical left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction in African-American individuals.

Background: Higher BMI is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart failure. Obesity disproportionately affects African Americans; however, the association between higher BMI and LV function in African Americans is not well understood.