Correlation between Cardiorespiratory Fitness and Modifiable Anthropometric Parameters in Chronic Heart Failure Patients

A decrease in cardiorespiratory function is associated with increased body mass index (BMI) in normal individuals according to scientific evidence. However, the relationship has not been studied in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF). Hence, we planned to evaluate the relationship between modifiable anthropometric measurements and cardiorespiratory parameters in CHF patients.

This research was a retrospective study conducted utilizing the data of CHF patients who had visited the Madhavbaug clinics in Maharashtra for consultation, between July 2018 and December 2018. The correlation between the modifiable anthropometric measurements (BMI and abdominal girth) and the exercise indices ( VO2 max and metabolic equivalents [METs]) was calculated.

Of the 147 patients included in the study, 74.15% were males with mean age of 59.15 ± 10.28 years. Mean BMI and abdominal girth were 26.69 ± 4.97 kg/m2 and 98.82 ± 12.74 cm, respectively. Mean VO2 max and METs were calculated to be 17.1 ± 6.78 ml/kg/min and 5.99 ± 2.01 units. The correlation coefficients (R) between VO2 max and the anthropometric variables were indicative of negligible correlation (R = 0.01 with BMI and R = −0.05 with abdominal girth, P > 0.05). However, the correlation between METs and the anthropometric variables was found to indicate moderate negative correlation, which was also statistically significant (R = −0.23 with BMI and R = −0.33 with abdominal girth, P < 0.05).

Higher BMI and abdominal girth in CHF patients were found to have a negative correlation with METs, indicating higher energy expenditure on physical activities. Lifestyle modifications will help improve the cardiorespiratory fitness in CHF patients and have a positive impact on METs.