2nd Edition of International Obesity and Metabolism Conference 2026

Abstract

Background: Overweight and obesity become a major public health problemerns. The uprising prevalence of obesity increases the risk of cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and metabolic diseases. Obesity causes structural and functional cardiac changes, which may increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

Objective: This study aimed to determine the correlations between body mass index and electrocardiographic (ECG) changes in female students at Hassan Ibrahim Malik Dormitories.

Methods: This was observational, descriptive, cross-sectional, facility-based  study including 171 female university students living in Ibrahim Malik Dormitories.

Socio-demographic characteristics and anthropometric measurements (weight and height) were recorded. Electrocardiograph was recorded using the Standard 12-lead ECGs. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 26. Descriptive data was presented as mean ± SD. The correlations between BMI and ECG changes were analysed using independent Student’s t-test, and Chi-square tests. A p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: The average age of female students  was 21.46 ± 2.50 years. The average weight, height, and BMI were 62.19 ± 14.31 kg, 162.52 ± 5.82 cm, and 23.44 ± 5.2 kg/m², respectively. The average heart rate of overweight/obese participants was 81.6 ± 12.6 bpm and 80.6 ± 12.9 bpm with normal BMI participants. The overall prevalence of obesity was 9%. There were ignificant associations between overweight/obesity  on one hand and left axis deviation, prolonged QTc interval, low QRS voltage, and left ventricular hypertrophy  on other hand (p = 0.04, 0.001, 0.001, and 0.001, respectively). However, there were no significant associations between BMI and heart rate, rhythm, or T-wave flattening.

Conclusion: The significant associations between BMI and several ECG changes, observed in this study, emphasize the importance of health education interventions and early detection of obesity-induced cardiovascular  diseases.