Sympathetic Cardiovascular Nerve Function Status in Overweight Individuals

Abstract

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.

J Rang Med Col. 2025 Sep;10(2): 97-102