Cardiac Geometry
Overall and in each trimester the LA diameter, IVS, LVEDD, PWT, RWT, LV
mass and LV mass index were all higher in the obese compared to the
normal BMI group (Table 2, Table S1 and Figure 1). The prevalence of
concentric LV hypertrophy (RWT>0.42 and LV mass index
>95g/m2) was higher in the obese women in
all trimesters (Table 2).
Systolic, diastolic and longitudinal
function
There was no difference in EDV index, ESV index or ejection fraction
between the groups (Table 3 and Table S1). E/A ratio and TDI E’ lateral
reduced with gestation in both groups (Table S2) and women with obesity
had lower E/A ratio, TDI E’ at the lateral and medial annulus and higher
E/E’ ratio (Table 3, Table S1 and Figure 2), suggesting worse diastolic
function, compared to normal BMI women. Longitudinal function of the
right heart, assessed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion
(TAPSE), was lower in women with obesity (Table 3 and Table S1). Left
longitudinal function, assessed by mitral annular plane systolic
excursion (MAPSE) at the lateral and septal annulus, reduced with
gestation in the obese but not in the normal BMI group (Table S2)
although there was no significant difference between the groups.