Detection of early left ventricular and atrial dysfunction in overweight patients with preserved ejection fraction: a speckle tracking analysis.

Background: Little remains known about the role of overweight to promote progressive atrial and ventricular myocardial dysfunction. Aim of this study was to investigate the potential influence of overweight on left ventricular (LV) and atrial (LA) function, as assessed by speckle tracking strain analysis, in patients at low-to-moderate global cardiovascular risk.

Methods: Seventy patients presenting 1 or more cardiovascular risk factor, with preserved ejection fraction, were enrolled.