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Obesity induces left ventricular diastolic dysfunction and ultimately causes heart failure. Sarcopenic obesity is common in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). However, the precise mechanism by which sarcopenic obesity is related to HFpEF is poorly understood. We aimed to evaluate the combined effect of sarcopenia (SP) and obesity on left ventricular diastolic function and exercise capacity. This study included 733 healthy subjects who underwent health check-ups in a tertiary hospital in Korea. All participants were categorized into four groups: non-SP/non-obese, SP/non-obese, non-SP/obese, and SP/obese. Comprehensive echocardiography with cardiopulmonary exercise testing was performed. Diastolic dysfunction was defined as an E/e' ratio ≥ 10. Across SP and obesity groups, a gradual decrease in e' velocity and an increase in the E/e' ratio was noted after adjustment for age and sex. Furthermore, a gradual decrease in percent-predicted peak VO 2 was observed across the groups. In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the SP/obese group had the highest risk for diastolic dysfunction (OR 4.27, 95% CI 2.41–7.57), followed by the non-SP/obese group (OR 2.88, 95% CI 1.57–5.29) and the SP/non-obese group (OR 1.90, 95% CI 1.01–3.56) compared with the reference (non-SP/non-obese) group even after controlling for various confounders. Sarcopenic obesity was associated with impaired diastolic function and decreased exercise capacity, suggesting a possible mechanism by which sarcopenic obesity contributes to the development of HFpEF. • Sarcopenic obesity was associated with impaired diastolic function and exercise intolerance. • The present study highlighted the importance of measuring body composition in the reclassification of obese populations. • Our data implied the possibility of both obesity and sarcopenia as targets for the prevention of HFpEF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether high heart rate is associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) in older women with hypertension. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Population‐based study conducted in Korea (Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey 2009–10). PARTICIPANTS: Postmenopausal women aged 60 and older with hypertension (N=981) divided into 2 groups according to resting heart rate, with a cut‐off value of 80 bpm, which has been found to be associated with osteoporosis. MEASUREMENTS: BMD profiles and clinical and laboratory data were collected. Osteoporosis was defined as a T‐score of –2.5 or less, according to World Health Organization criteria. RESULTS: BMD was significantly lower in participants with a high heart rate, even after adjustment for age, diabetes mellitus, white blood cell count, and fasting glucose and triglyceride levels. The prevalence of osteoporosis was also significantly higher in those participants. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, the group with high heart rate was 1.7 times as likely (95% confidence interval=1.2–2.3) to have osteoporosis as those with a lower heart rate, independent of age, body mass index, comorbidities, and laboratory findings. CONCLUSION: High heart rate is independently associated with lower BMD in older women with hypertension; proactive surveillance of BMD could be helpful when managing older women with hypertension and a high heart rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]