IJCS | Volume 31, Nº3, May/ June 2018

DOI: 10.5935/2359-4802.20180006 ORIGINAL ARTICLE International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2018;31(3)226-234 226 Mailing address: Denise Tavares Giannini Rua Gustavo Corção, 606 apto: 301. Postal Code: 22790-150, Recreio dos Bandeirantes, Rio de Janeiro, RJ – Brazil. E-mail: denisegiannini@uol.com.br Heart Failure: Correlation between Anthropometric Parameters, Body Composition and Cell Integrity Tathiana Carestiato Faria, Denise Tavares Giannini, Patrícia Vasconcelos Fontana Gasparini, Ricardo Mourilhe Rocha Hospital Universitário Pedro Ernesto da Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ – Brazil Manuscript received April 06, 2017; revised manuscript September 18, 2017; accepted September 22, 2017 Abstract Background: Knowledge about phase angle and its use as a prognostic determinant in patients with heart failure is still scarce. Objective: To evaluate the correlation between anthropometric indicators, cardiac function and cell integrity in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that evaluated patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction by anthropometry andbioelectrical impedance analysis. Chi-square test andStudent's t testwereused to analyzedifferences, and Pearson's linear correlation was used to evaluate associations, using p < 0.05 to indicate statistical significance. Results: We evaluated 41 subjects aged 30-74 years, of which 34 were men (82.9%). Mean phase angle was higher among women (7.1%), but significant differences between men and women were found only for body fat percentage. Phase angle correlatedwith bodymass index (r = 0.44, p= 0.004) and therewas a trend of correlation of the phase anglewith waist‑to‑height ratio (r = 0.29, p = 0.06) and the left ventricular ejection fraction (r = 0.29, p = 0.07). Conclusions: Phase angle showed a good correlation with body mass index and showed a trend of correlation with the left ventricular ejection fraction, supporting the obesity paradox and the prognostic importance of this marker. Further studies on the applicability of the phase angle in the prognosis of these patients are still needed. (International Journal of Cardiovascular Sciences. 2018;31(3)226-234) Keywords: Heart Failure; Body Composition; Obesity; Stroke Volume; Body Mass Index. Introduction Systemic arterial hypertension (SAH) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are common causes of heart failure (HF). One of their main risk factors is obesity, which causes several adverse effects to health, particularly to cardiovascular health. 1 According to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF), 2 although increased body mass index (BMI) may lead to these conditions, excessive abdominal fat, estimated by waist circumference (WC), is the main indicative of metabolic syndrome. Therefore, central body fat has been increasingly recognized as an independent risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). 3 On the other hand, in establishedHF, mild tomoderate overweight has been associated with a substantial increase in survival as compared with normal weight individuals, the so called “obesity paradox”. 1,4 One of the several theories that may explain such paradox is the fact that excessive adipose tissue provides greater storages that may exert a protect role against disease-related metabolic changes that may lead to cardiac cachexia. Cardiac cachexia is a syndrome that involves progressive weight loss and changes in body composition, bearing a devastating prognosis for HF patients. 4 Besides, most data related to this paradox identify obesity by BMI, 4 which although is the most widely used method in nutritional assessment, does not clearly reflect