Abstract
Surgical weight loss (SWL) improves myocardial mechanics as measured by speckle-tracking imaging. However non-surgical versus SWL and the subsequent impact on myocardial function in overweight Asian subjects has not been evaluated. 66 patients underwent a 16-week lifestyle intervention (LSI) programme consisting of dietary interventions and exercise prescription. Echocardiography with speckle tracking was performed at baseline and post-intervention. This group was compared against a group of 12 subjects who had undergone bariatric surgery and a control group of 10 lean Asian subjects. A generalised structural equation model (gSEM) was constructed to ascertain the effect of modality of weight loss on strain parameters, adjusting for BMI. Participants attained significant weight loss after LSI (28.2 ± 2.66 kg/m2 vs. 25.8 ± 2.84 kg/m2, p = 0.001). This was associated with a non-significant trend towards improvement in strain parameters. SWL participants had significant improvement in the left ventricular global longitudinal strain (- 20.52 ± 3.34 vs. - 16.68 ± 4.15, p < 0.01) and left atrium reservoir strain (44.32 ± 14.23 vs. 34.3 ± 19.31, p = 0.02). Lean subjects had significantly higher strain parameters than overweight subjects. The gSEM model demonstrated surgical modality of weight loss as an independent predictor of improvement in strain parameters. Significant improvement in echocardiographic parameters were documented in patients who underwent bariatric surgery.