Obesity cardiomyopathy: the role of obstructive sleep apnea and obesity hypoventilation syndrome

The negative long-term health consequences of obesity are well known to both the medical profession and general public. Despite this, the number of obese and overweight individuals worldwide continues to steadily rise. Although obesity has long been associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular disease and mortality, the classification of a cardiomyopathy of obesity is a more recent development. Obesity cardiomyopathy is characterized as myocardial dysfunction or heart failure in obese individuals independent of other cardiovascular risk factors. The purpose of this report is to provide an overview of obesity cardiomyopathy and the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this disease, as well as to examine the link between obesity cardiomyopathy and sleep-related disorders.