Obese subjects show several electrocardiographic alterations, including prolonged QT interval, a marker for fatal cardiac arrhythmias. Prolonged QT interval has recently been linked to low testosterone levels, a frequent occurrence in male obese patients.
Conclusion:
Obese hypogonadal men show a greater prevalence of prolonged QT interval compared with their eugonadal counterparts.
It appears therefore that low levels of testosterone in obese men may contribute to the arrhythmogenic profile of these patients, a heretofore unknown link which warrants further clinical attention.
Pecori Giraldi F, et al., Obesity 2011 Feb 24.
