Sympathetic Cardiovascular Nerve Function Status in Overweight Individuals

Background:
Overweight can lead to adverse health outcomes such as increased
cardiovascular disease risk and chronic conditions that decrease overall
quality of life. Reduced sympathetic activity represents a preclinical
marker in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in overweight
individuals.
Objective:
The study aimed to assess the cardiovascular sympathetic nerve
function status in normal weight and overweight individuals.
Methods:
This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted from July 2017 to
June 2018 in the Department of Physiology, Rangpur Medical College,
Rangpur, Bangladesh. After obtaining permission the participants who
would meet the inclusions and exclusions criteria were enrolled in the
study after briefing them about objectives. A total number of 80 age, sex
matched individuals were selected, among them 40 were apparently
healthy normal weight individuals (group-A) and 40 were apparently
healthy overweight individuals (group-B). Two simple noninvasive
cardiovascular reflex tests like blood pressure response to sustained
handgrip and standing were done to assess cardiovascular sympathetic
nerve functions status. Baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressure
recording was done during resting condition. The participants were
selected by purposive sampling method from different areas of Rangpur
division, Bangladesh. For statistical analysis, unpaired ̒t̕ test was
performed by computer-based software SPSS 23.0 version for windows.
Results:
Overweight individuals had both higher mean systolic blood pressure
(p<0.05) and mean diastolic blood pressure than normal weight
individuals in resting condition. And overweight individuals had lower
blood pressure response to sustained handgrip (p<0.05) and standing
(p>0.05) than normal weight individuals. Rise of mean diastolic blood
pressure in response to sustained handgrip in overweight was significant
(18.2±2.86 vs 15.68±5.17; p=0.24) but fall of mean systolic blood
pressure in response to standing in overweight was not significant
(8±2.95 vs 6.68±2.8; p=0.105).
Conclusion:
Reduced sympathetic activity in overweight individuals indicate
modifications in cardiovascular autonomic nerve functions and this
could make them prone to future development of various
cardiovascular complications