Assessment of cardiovascular risk in obese subjects

Abstract

Introduction: Obesity has become one of the challenges of the health system in Tunisia, which is currently in epidemiological transition marked by the expansion of cardiovascular disease. Objective
To study the cardiovascular risk factors in a population of obese subjects. Patients and methods: The prospective study collected 41 obese subjects and 39 controls. Biological tests seeking the cardiovascular risk factors were performed. Anthropometric data were measured and nutrition surveys were conducted. Results: Triglycerides, lipoprotein (a), CRPus, TNF alpha and interleukin-8 serum means were increased in
obese subjects compared to controls (p<10-3, p=0.009, p<10-3, p=0.028 and p=0.013 respectively). The daily dietary intake of protein, fat and calories was increased in the obese group (p<10-3, p=0.007 and p=0.003 respectively). Correlations in the group of obese subjects showed a positive correlation between serum levels of LDL-cholesterol and those of interleukin-8 (r=0.39, p=0.016) and between daily nutritional intake of
fat and serum levels of interleukin 6 (r=0.72, p<10-3). The body mass index correlated positively with serum lipoprotein (a) (r=0.33, p=0.026). Conclusion: Metabolic abnormalities were numerous in obese subjects and reveal an inflammatory field. The management of obesity should consider all abnormalities.