Cardiovascular disease in genotypes for obesity and diabetes.

Cardiovascular diseases represent a major cause of morbidity and mortality in both obese and diabetic patients. The mechanisms by which diabetes or obesity cause the cardiac lesions is poorly understood. A number of risk factors associated with the development of atherosclerotic vascular disease, a precursor of heart disease, are found in diabetes and obesity. There is evidence that diabetes or obesity may even cause a primary cardiomyopathy. The use of animal models with obesity or diabetes with various combinations of risk factors may clarify what each component contributes to the expression of cardiovascular disease. This report summarizes some of the current information on the cardiovascular complications found in various animal models of obesity and diabetes.