Range of adiposity and cardiorenal syndrome

Abstract

Obesity and obesity-related co-morbidities, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension are among the fastest-growing risk factors of heart failure and kidney disease worldwide. Obesity, which is not a unitary concept, or a static process, ranges from alterations in distribution to the amount of adiposity. Visceral adiposity, which includes intraabdominal visceral fat mass and ectopic fat deposition such as hepatic, cardiac, or renal, was robustly associated with a greater risk for cardiorenal morbidity than subcutaneous adiposity. In addition, morbid obesity has also demonstrated a negative effect on cardiac and renal functioning. The mechanisms by which adipose tissue is linked with the cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) are hemodynamic and mechanical changes, as well neurohumoral pathways such as insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, nitric oxide bioavailability, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, oxidative stress, sympathetic nervous systems, natriuretic peptides, adipokines and inflammation. Adiposity and other associated co-morbidities induce adverse cardiac remodeling and interstitial fibrosis. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction has been associated with obesity-related functional and structural abnormalities. Obesity might also impair kidney function through hyperfiltration, increased glomerular capillary wall tension, and podocyte dysfunction, which leads to tubulointerstitial fibrosis and loss of nephrons and, finally, chronic kidney disease. The development of new treatments with renal and cardiac effects in the context of type 2 diabetes, which improves mortality outcome, has highlighted the importance of CRS and its prevalence. Increased body fat triggers cellular, neuro-humoral and metabolic pathways, which create a phenotype of the CRS with specific cellular and biochemical biomarkers. Obesity has become a single cardiorenal umbrella or type of cardiorenal metabolic syndrome. This review article provides a clinical overview of the available data on the relationship between a range of adiposity and CRS, the support for obesity as a single cardiorenal umbrella, and the most relevant studies on the recent therapeutic approaches.

Core tip: Visceral adiposity and morbid obesity are risk factors for heart and kidney disease, configuring a cardiorenal syndrome. Adipose tissue results in hemodynamic and mechanical derangements in addition to activating neuro-humoral systems such as endothelial dysfunction, adipokines, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone, sympathetic nervous system, natriuretic peptides, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Obesity induces cardiac remodeling and fibrosis, leading to heart failure (HF). HF with preserved ejection fraction is characteristically linked to obesity. Hyperfiltration, increased glomerular capillary wall tension, podocyte dysfunction, and, finally, chronic kidney disease has been linked to obesity. Most of the new treatments for diabetes mellitus type 2, which have favorable cardiovascular outcomes, improve the cardiometabolic renal syndrome associated with obesity.

INTRODUCTION

The prevalence of obesity has increased dramatically in recent years, and the increase has been more significant in the high ranges of body mass index (BMI) that represents almost 5% of the population. The rise in obesity is associated with an increase in cardiometabolic disease. Both the distribution and the amount of adiposity have been related to the pathophysiology of arterial hypertension, atherosclerotic vascular disease, heart failure (HF), chronic kidney disease (CKD), global mortality and cardiovascular disease[1].

The global prevalence of obesity is 5% among children and 12% among adults, and is higher in women. The peak of obesity is observed between the ages of 50 and 64 years. High BMI represented 7.1% of all deaths, and nearly 70% of these deaths related to high BMI were due to cardiovascular disease. CKD was the cause of 18% of disability-adjusted life-years that occurred at a BMI greater than 30 but represented less than 10% of all BMI-related deaths in 2015[2]. Obesity, diabetes mellitus, the second leading cause of BMI-related deaths, and CKD are among the fastest-growing causes of deaths worldwide[3]. Furthermore, waist circumference and visceral obesity might be increasing beyond what is expected according to BMI. Janssen et al[4] demonstrated that waist circumference increased in a sample of the Canadian population with a one-unit increase in BMI from 1981 to 2007-2009. This data suggests that the trend in obesity is related to a risker profile in which greater visceral obesity and the burden of adiposity is taking place.

The risk factors associated with increased cardiovascular disease (CVD) are similar across countries. In a standardized case-control study of myocardial infarction in 52 countries, abdominal obesity was found to be related to myocardial infarction (OR of 1.12 for top vs lowest tertile and 1.62 for middle vs lowest tertile), and a population attributable risk (PAR) of 20.1% for the top two tertiles vs the lowest tertiles (from 5 in China to 63.5 in western Europe)[5]. These associations were noted in men and women, old and young, and in all regions of the world. Collectively, these nine risk factors, such as smoking, history of hypertension or diabetes, waist-hip-ratio, dietary patterns, physical activity, consumption of alcohol, blood apolipoproteins, and psychosocial factors; all of them accounted for 90% of the PAR in men and 94% in women. South Asians have been found to have a higher proportional incidence and mortality rate from ischemic heart disease and CKD compared with other ethnic groups such as East Asian (Chinese, Japanese, and Korean) populations and non-Hispanic whites[6].

This increase in the prevalence of obesity and visceral adiposity (VA) and its related diseases is paralleled with the fastest growth in severe/morbid obesity. Population-based studies have reported that 2.3% (2.0-2.7) of the world's men and 5.0% (4.4-5.6) of women were severely obese (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²). Furthermore, the prevalence of morbid obesity was 0.64% (0.46-0.86) in men and 1.6% (1.3-1.9) in women (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m²)[7]. The association of cardiometabolic-renal risk factors that are related to cardiovascular events is likely to be bigger with greater BMI. According to this, severe/morbid obesity (BMI ≥ 35 kg/m²) was associated with higher triglycerides, hs-C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin and insulin resistance, diastolic blood pressure and higher odds of hypertension than grade I obesity both in women and men and in those who were physically inactive[8]. In addition, recently, Santos et al[9] reported that hypertension, CRP, systolic blood pressure, waist circumference, body fat percentage, and visceral area were significantly higher among individuals with the highest BMI. It appears that most of the cardiometabolic risk factors are related to cardiorenal syndrome (CRS).

Once the individual threshold is exceeded, severe visceral, parenchymal and generalized adiposity is accompanied by an inflammatory, neurohormonal, vascular, and metabolic response that converges in cardiac and renal damage. In addition, the presence of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, where obesity plays a central role, along with the increasing number of aggregated cardiovascular risk factors amplify and perpetuate the CRS[10].

The prevalence of HF is 1% to 2% in the general population and, in the United States, at the age of 45 years, the lifetime risk of HF ranges from 20% to 46% depending on the black or the white population, and is higher in women[11]. At least, more than half of HF is in the form of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), which is increasing in the developed world associated with the increasing risk factors for vascular disease and markers of renal dysfunction[12]. HFpEF is characterized by relaxation abnormalities during diastole and increased venous congestion. Obesity and insulin resistance, along with endothelial dysfunction, impaired insulin signaling, and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability. In addition, VA and the metabolic syndrome induce oxidative stress and the inflammatory response, which exert their effects on the heart and kidney[13]. The increased ventricular mass, biventricular dependency, and interstitial fibrosis compromise diastolic relaxation and predispose the failing heart to acute decompensated HF (ADHF) and hospitalization[14].

The association between obesity and CKD has been reported. With a BMI > 30, the disability-adjusted life years were 18% due to CKD compared to 7.2% with a BMI < 30[2]. Epidemiological studies have found that VA has raised the incidence of CKD and predisposition to acute kidney injury (AKI)[15]. In addition, there is a strong relationship between increases in body weight measured by BMI and the progression of kidney disease. In a global meta-analysis of over five million adults followed over an average of 8 years, Chang et al[16] found that a BMI of 30, 35, and 40 were associated with an 18%, 69%, and 102% increased risk of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline, respectively, compared with a BMI of 25. In this regard, glomerular hyperfiltration was reported to have been an early functional alteration shared with diabetes mellitus, adiposity, insulin resistance, and hypertension[17]. Several obesity-related mediators have been implicated, such as renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activation, NO production, pro-inflammatory adipokines, and adipose-related mediators[18]. To which extent adiposity might influence the progression from glomerular to tubulointerstitial fibrosis and loss of nephrons depends on the combination of the rest of the kidney risk factors and the degree of obesity.

The development of a new therapy for diabetes mellitus with cardiorenal improvements and benefits in mortality outcomes, which has been used in HF as well, has opened up a new horizon in the management of this syndrome. We should use the term cardiorenal metabolic syndrome previously reported by Sowers et al[19], which may be applied to an adiposity-related cardiorenal syndrome. This term considers obesity and diabetes mellitus or metabolic syndrome as a pivotal factor in the development of kidney and heart disease.

It is necessary to move toward a model in which the heart and the kidney are affected by the same risk factors such as obesity and adiposity, but in different degrees and time frames. We have to consider obesity as a single CRS umbrella, differentiating patients according to the predominant pathophysiological systems, which may be identified with a biomarker phenotyping or a biomarker profile. The aim of this article is to propose new concepts for the basis of adiposity in the pathophysiology of CRS, and furthermore, to highlight the importance of obesity in response to new treatments of CRS and new trials. We have tried to develop a phenotype of CRS associated with obesity, which is considered as being a heterogeneous entity within a range of adiposity that determines the specific profile of biomarkers for VA and morbid obesity.

REVIEW METHODOLOGY

This is a narrative review; however, to ensure all relevant literature is considered, systematic searches were carried out on Medline, Ovid and EBSCO using the terms “cardiorenal”, “obesity”, “adiposity”, “HF, and “CKD” limited to English language papers with human subjects. This was supplemented by manual reference searches; many papers reporting effects on the heart and the kidney in humans were identified. This review is limited to describing studies of obesity, adiposity, HF, and acute and CKD. No exclusions were made based on participant characteristics, co-morbidity and study design. To assist with the direct interpretation of data, the study design, participants, and results from studies, which met the inclusion criteria and assessed current key areas of interest, are described in tables. Specifically, these deal with the concept of the range of adiposity, which refers to adipose tissue and ectopic fat distribution and the BMI classification, the classification of CRS, and tables in relation to key studies of the new therapeutic alternatives for adiposity-related CRS.

CARDIORENAL SYNDROME: TYPES

Cardiorenal syndromes are defined as alterations of the heart and the kidneys where the dysfunction of one can induce acute or chronic dysfunction of the other, as defined in the international consensus[20]. At the 2008 conference, the Acute Dialysis Quality Initiative reported a classification for CRS, categorized into five types, based on which organ or process is the causation and which are the consequence as well as the time frame of development, as summarized in Table 1.

Table 1.

Classification of cardiorenal syndromes

Type	Primary and secondary organs and processes affected in the syndromes
	Primary	Secondary
Type 1	Cardiac impairment, acute	Renal impairment
Type 2	Cardiac impairment, chronic	Renal impairment
Type 3	Renal impairment, acute	Cardiac impairment
Type 4	Renal impairment, chronic	Cardiac impairment
Type 5	Systemic condition	Cardiac and renal impairment

Type 1 CRS, acute cardiorenal is characterized by the acute worsening of cardiac function leading to AKI, and it occurs in about 25% of patients with ADHF[21]. Furthermore, in the HFpEF individuals from the ADHERE database, urea nitrogen or creatinine levels were the most powerful predictors of in-hospital mortality. CRS type 2 is characterized by chronic abnormalities in cardiac function, leading to chronic kidney injury or dysfunction. In a prospective sequence of selected individuals with systolic cardiac dysfunction [heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF)], CKD was found in 26% with a lower survival prognosis compared with patients without CKD.

CRS type 3 or acute kidney-heart syndrome is characterized by AKI, leading to heart diseases (acute) such as ADHF, arrhythmias, and acute coronary syndrome (ACS)[22]. Many pathological situations such as infections lead to AKI and then ADHF, where a vicious cycle is established, worsening the prognosis and mortality rates[23].

CRS type 4 or chronic kidney-heart syndrome is characterized by cardiac dysfunction in patients with CKD at any stage but predominantly from stages 4 and 5. Go et al[24] reported that in a large-scale community-based population with CKD, reduced estimated GFR (eGFR) had an independent and graded risk of death, cardiovascular events, and hospitalization.

CRS type 5 or secondary is characterized when cardiac and renal injury coincides, resulting from a common underlying pathological process such as connective tissue disorders or sepsis[25,26]. Despite the existence of the underlying disease, the hemodynamic and pro-inflammatory mediators are similar to those in the other types[27].

In a retrospective cohort study of 30681 patients who underwent at least one transthoracic echocardiography, 8% of patients developed at least one of the CRSs, of which 19% subsequently developed an acute syndrome. The development of an acute syndrome was associated with the highest risk of death (HR = 3.13, 95%CI: 0.37 to 0.61, P < 0.001)[28]. Furthermore, in a meta-analysis of studies on HF, the prevalence of CKD was 32% and worsening renal function was present in 23%, both of which are associated and independent predictors of all-cause mortality[29]. In addition, a retrospective analysis of studies on left ventricular (LV) dysfunction showed that moderate renal insufficiency was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (RR = 1.41; P = 0.001)[30].

RANGE OF OBESITY: BODY FAT MASS AND BODY FAT DISTRIBUTION

Obesity is defined by the BMI, calculated according to WHO recommendations, which allows not only the establishment of criteria for clinical studies but also classification into different degrees of obesity. Classifications and thresholds of adiposity are summarized in Table 2. However, obesity in terms of BMI is remarkably heterogeneous with various co-morbidities and levels of health risk[31]. Most studies have shown that the increase in visceral adipose tissue is the primary determinant of the metabolic risk associated with obesity. Thus, VA is the result of the inability of subcutaneous adipose tissue to expand in response to increased demand for triglycerides, that among individuals determines the concept of the personal fat threshold[32]. Numerous factors influence visceral or subcutaneous adiposity such as age, sex, race or ethnicity, genetic and epigenetic traits, even the type of diet[32,33]. Excess VA is composed of visceral and ectopic adiposity, which has been related to adipocyte dysfunction, inflammatory response, adipokine and neurohormonal dysregulation, insulin resistance, and endothelial dysfunction[34].

Table 2.

The range of adiposity - classifications and thresholds for white individuals

General adiposity (SAT and VAT) BMI, kg/m2	Thresholds and classification
< 24.9	Normal
25-29.9	Overweight
30-34.9	Class I
35-39.9	Class II
≥ 40	Class III
Central adiposity (VA)	Thresholds
WC	M: ≥ 94 cm, W: ≥ 80 cm
	Thresholds depend on BMI and ethnicity
Waist-to-height ratio (index of central obesity)	> 50 yr: ≥ 0.6, < 40 yr: ≥ 0.5
Waist-to-hip ratio	M: ≥ 0.9, W: ≥ 0.85
Neck circumference	M: ≥ 40.5 cm W: ≥ 34.2 cm
Sagittal abdominal diameter	> 30 cm correlates with CV risk
Visceral adiposity index[189]	The formula for M and W depends on WC,BMI, TG and HDL-cholesterol
Ectopic and parenchymal adiposity
Liver, epicardial and renal fat tissue	Continuous variable, MRI or TC

BMI: Body mass index; CV: Cardiovascular; M: Male; SAT: Subcutaneous adipose tissue; TG: Triglycerides; VAT: Visceral adipose tissue; W: Women; WC: Waist circumference; HDL: High-density lipoprotein; VA: Visceral adiposity.

The development of CT and MRI has allowed the analysis and measurement of fat content in different compartments using tomographic slices and computerized analysis[35]. This has allowed quantitative and qualitative analysis of the different areas and organs such as the pancreas, liver, kidney, and heart of the so-called ectopic fat and the risk for cardiovascular disease[36]. Recently, the use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, which gives an estimate of the distribution and amount of body fat, has become popular. In fact, it is an acceptable alternative to the use of MRI or CT along with waist circumference and BMI[37]. The International Study of Prediction of Intra-abdominal Adiposity and Its Relationship with Cardiometabolic Risk/Intra-abdominal Adiposity, based on data from CT, has demonstrated that within each BMI, the measurement of abdominal circumference correlates with abdominal, visceral fat and cardiometabolic risk[38]. Furthermore, these data and those from prospective studies have shown that abdominal circumference is associated with an increase in cardiovascular risk within each category of BMI; thus, the risk of CVD should be established after having been adjusted for the BMI[39]. Finally, the presence of an increase in abdominal circumference associated with an increase in triglyceride levels has been strongly correlated with increased visceral fat (VAT) levels giving rise to an index called the hypertriglyceridemic waist phenotype[40].

The general increase in adiposity that characterizes severe or morbid obesity has special characteristics that combine a massive increase in visceral and subcutaneous adiposity, which adds additional morbidity to the traditional concept of obesity[41]. Despite the increased fat mass, severe/morbid obesity was associated with higher triglycerides, hs-CRP, insulin and insulin resistance, diastolic blood pressure and higher odds of hypertension than grade I obesity in both women and men and among them[42], physically inactive individuals presented the least favorable cardiometabolic profile (P < 0.05)[8]. Moreover, Santos et al[9] reported that hypertension, CRP, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure were more prevalent in a patient with BMI > 45. Also, the waist circumference, body fat percentage, visceral fat area and systolic blood pressure were significantly higher in patients with a BMI > 45 compared with a BMI 35-44.9.

Taken together, there is a gradual increase in dangerous adiposity, from VA and ectopic adiposity to generalized morbidly obese patients, where not only VA but also SA plays a key role in the higher prevalence of hypertension, HF and CKD.

PHYSIOPATHOLOGY OF THE CARDIORENAL SYNDROME: CARDIO-METABOLIC AND RENAL TRAITS

Adiposity triggers a metabolic, neurohormonal, inflammatory, endothelial, immunological and fibrotic response that configures a characteristic pathophysiological profile for each type of obesity. These pathophysiological systems may have variable clinical expressions in the heart and in the kidney.

Renin-angiotensin system and RAAS

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is likely to be one of the main factors that links the kidney and the heart in the CRS. The augmented renin-induced angiotensin II (AngII) has many renal, cardiac, and systemic effects[43]. In addition, Ang II stimulates the synthesis and release of aldosterone, which stimulates sodium and water retention, and it has other harmful effects on the cardiovascular system[44]. At the glomerular level, the activation of RAS and AngII cause sodium retention and efferent artery vasoconstriction, augmenting the intraglomerular pressure. Also, intrarenal Ang II is likely to play a role in kidney injury by acting directly at the cellular level. It has been shown that Ang II stimulates the proliferation of mesangial cells and the production of collagen in vitro[45]. Ang II has also been implicated in the inflammatory and oxidative responses not only in mesangial cells but also in endothelial cells[46].

Ang II also exerts its effect on the heart by inducing cardiac hypertrophy. AngII stimulates protein synthesis and cell growth in cardiomyocytes in vitro and in vivo. It has also been shown that AngII exerts its effects via AT1 receptors independently of blood pressure[47]. Within the signaling pathways of the action of AngII, it has been suggested that, at least in part, they act through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and that this effect can be modified by the administration of antioxidants[48]. On the other hand, RAS has been implicated in cardiac fibrosis by stimulating cardiac fibroblasts proliferation and the synthesis and secretion of collagen[49]. However, the exact signaling pathways involved in the effect of AngII-induced cardiac fibrosis are still not well known. It is currently considered that most of the impact on renal and heart fibrosis seems to depend on the augmented mineralocorticoid activity.

The activation of RAS and increased AngII cause an increase in the release and production of aldosterone, which in turn, induces sodium and water retention contributing to fluid overload. Experimental mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blockade markedly attenuated sodium retention, glomerular hyperfiltration, and blood pressure[50]. However, the clinical benefits of aldosterone receptor blockade occur despite the concomitant blockade with angiotensin blockade or ACE inhibitors, that support MR activation independently of AngII-mediated stimulation of aldosterone secretion[51].

Additionally, activation of the MR may lead to fibrosis in the vessels, heart and kidneys. In an experimental model of hypertensive aldosterone-salt-treated rats, galectin-3 is involved in mediating aldosterone-induced cardiac and renal fibrosis[52]. Furthermore, acute and chronic kidney injury induced by ischemia/reperfusion in rats displayed kidney dysfunction, increased proteinuria, extensive tubule-interstitial fibrosis, TGFβ, and collagen-I mRNA. All of these chronic and acute alterations have been prevented by the administration of the novel nonsteroidal MR antagonist finerenone[53].

Sympathetic nervous system

The augmented activity of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) characterizes HF and worsening of renal function (WRF) in the CRS. Thus, an activated SNS has harmful effects on the heart and the kidney. This raised renal SNS activity leads to an increase in both tubular sodium reabsorption and arteriolar vascular contraction, which, results in increased renin release[54,55]. RAS activation and sympathetic activity are processes that self-amplify each other. On the other hand, an increase in norepinephrine is observed in HF as well as an activated SNS, all of which correlate with a higher degree of congestion and a worse prognosis[56].

Inflammation and oxidative stress

The ROS, which are usually generated as by-products in the mitochondrial respiratory chain activity, inactivate the endothelium-derived relaxing factor, NO, by forming ONOO^-[57]. This inactivation of NO results in protein damage, loss of NO bioavailability, and impaired vasodilatation, which further diminishes renal and cardiac function[58]. In addition, the imbalance between ROS and NOS is augmented by the activation of RAS and SNS, perpetuating the damage in the CRS[59]. Oxidative stress has been studied as a reversible process, and it should be emphasized that there are therapeutic attempts with promising results, but to date, there is not enough evidence to recommend these types of treatments[60].

The inflammatory response may cause tissue injury and organ dysfunction. The HF and WRF in CRS may deteriorate due to local and systemic inflammation. Moreover, pathological processes such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and dyslipidemia are linked to CRS, which involves systemic inflammation[61]. Furthermore, the activated RAAS and SAS, as well as the hemodynamic derangements observed in CRS, may be additional sources of inflammatory mediators[61]. In the kidneys, tumor necrosis factor alpha and other pro-inflammatory cytokines have been shown to induce mesangial apoptosis, renal hypertrophy, ROS production, and fibrosis[62]. In the same way, these pro-inflammatory mediators are involved in LV remodeling, LV hypertrophy, and are detrimental to ventricular function[63].

Hemodynamic impairment and increased venous pressure

A reduction in effective circulation fluid volume in HF is associated with reduced renal blood flow (RBF), which stimulates renin release from the juxtaglomerular apparatus in the renal afferent artery. Activation of the RAS generates sodium and volume retention, arterial vasoconstriction, reduced glomerular perfusion and the release of aldosterone. These hemodynamic changes may worsen HF and renal function, which directs therapy towards the improvement of cardiac indices. However, this association between cardiac output and renal function has not always been demonstrated in the clinical setting. In fact, there are two HF clinical pictures, HFrEF and HFpEF which accounts for more than 50% of all HF[64].

Furthermore, when the risk factors for acute WRF (AWRF) in patients with acute decompensated HF were studied, a history of hypertension but not elevated blood pressure at admission was an independent risk factor for HFpEF. In contrast, diastolic blood pressure at admission was the only risk factor observed for AWRF in the HFrEF group[65]. In addition, analyses of the ESCAPE database revealed that baseline hemodynamics or the change in hemodynamics parameters was not correlated with WRF and clinical outcomes[66]. From the above, we can conclude that the mechanisms linking HF and WRF are multiple and not fully known.

It has been suggested that venous congestion may be a critical factor in CRS that impairs renal function. In patients with advanced decompensated HF, venous congestion was the most important hemodynamic factor associated with WRF measured as central venous pressure (CVP)[67]. Also, during the ten-year follow-up of a broad spectrum of cardiovascular patients, increased CVP was associated with impaired renal function all-cause mortality. In summary, fluid overload and increased CVP resulted in decreased renal perfusion and reduced GFR that results from the activation of deleterious neurohormonal pathways[68].

Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), which is a peptide produced by cardiomyocytes in response to myocardial stretch, activates the guanylyl cyclase A receptor (GC-A), whereas ANP is degraded by enzymes like neprilysin (NEP) and insulin-degrading enzyme[69]. ANP regulates the volume and pressures by inducing natriuresis and vasodilatation. ANP also antagonizes the RAAS system by inhibiting renin secretion, aldosterone production and SNS activation[70]. Wang et al[71] reported that obese individuals had low plasma N-ANP compared with lean individuals. Furthermore, in a group of ADHF patients, serum levels and the effect of ANP were inversely related to BMI[72]. Hypertension, HF, obesity and metabolic syndrome are processes characterized by ANP deficiency or insufficiency, which makes ANP a key target for the treatment of cardiorenal metabolic disease.

Insulin-resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and arterial stiffness

The increase in insulin resistance with obesity and adiposity is well established. However, there is no linear relationship between insulin resistance levels and BMI. It has been published that resistance levels in severe obesity with BMI above 45 are similar to the values found in individuals with moderate BMI[9]. These results suggest that the main determinants of insulin resistance are trunk obesity or adiposity in organs and tissues rather than the global and subcutaneous fat tissue.

Insulin resistance is considered pivotal in the pathogenesis of cardiorenal metabolic syndrome, being at the center of obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, hyperinsulinemia, dyslipidemia and albuminuria[73]. The specific clinical condition associated with insulin resistance obesity is insulin resistance, and the physiopathology picture is RAAS activation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction[74]. The latter evidenced as lower NO production and augmented endothelial-derived inflammatory markers. Decreased NO production by impaired insulin signaling and the destruction of NO by oxidative stress lead to a decrease in available NO, the mechanism by which vasodilator response is altered[42]. The pathophysiological picture of impaired NO-mediated vasodilatation, endothelial-damaged lost, microvascular remodeling, pro-inflammatory and prothrombotic states lead to fibrosis in the heart and the kidneys, which has been suggested to be the underlying causes of cardiorenal metabolic syndrome[75]. One of the pathways that disturb insulin signaling is mTOR/S6K1 signaling, which with excessive activation, can lead to impaired insulin metabolic signaling by phosphorylation of IRS-1 and IRS-2. This hyperactive mTOR/S6K1 signaling was also associated with dysfunction of endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells and cardiomyocytes[76].

Activation of vascular MRs was associated with impairment in IRS-1/PI3K/AKT signaling, lowering endothelial NO. This signaling pathway is activated by insulin metabolic action and flow-mediated shear stress. Endothelium Na⁺ channel (EnNaC) activation by endothelium MR stimulation increases Na⁺ entry, promotes actin polymerization, and stiffness of the cellular membrane. EnNaC and MR activation results in a further decrease in NO production and arterial stiffness[77]. Also, endothelial MR and low NO promote translocation of transglutaminase 2 to the extracellular matrix where it crosslinks several substrates, including collagen, which promotes CV fibrosis and maladaptive remodeling[78].

It should be mentioned that the metabolic syndrome is to be a new target in the management of CRS due to new drugs with cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic effects[79].

Adipocyte-derived factors: Adiponectin and leptin

Adiponectin is a hormone produced by adipose tissue with anti-inflammatory, insulin-sensitizing, and vascular effects. Adiponectin has been inversely correlated with body weight, visceral fat, cardiac disease, endothelial dysfunction, renal dysfunction, and proteinuria[80]. By contrast, CKD and end-stage CKD were associated with high serum levels of adiponectin. The vascular protective effect of adiponectin in the setting of renal dysfunction remains controversial[81].

Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells and enterocytes, implicated in the regulation of energy balance. The leptin receptor is located in the CNS and other body organs such as the kidneys, inducing natriuresis, insulin sensitization, vascular dilatation, NO production, and increased heart rate and blood pressure[82]. Therefore, the kidneys are not only leptin-clearance organs but also a target of leptin action. In addition, experimental and human obesity are associated with increased serum levels of leptin, adrenergic activation rises in arterial pressure, and relative renal resistance being a risk for WRF[83]. Although leptin has been suggested as being a link between obesity and CRS, the underlying pathways and mechanisms remain to be elucidated[84].

The metabolic activity of more extensive adipose tissue in obesity-related insulin resistance disorder, generates a flux of free fatty acids (FFA)[85]. This FFA-induced lipotoxicity inhibits insulin-stimulated glucose uptake, and insulin-mediated vasodilatation[86]. The insulin-resistance of the glucose-lowering effect impairs NO production by endothelial cells which might contribute, at least partly, to vascular stiffening[87].

ADIPOSITY IN THE CARDIORENAL SYNDROME: THE ROLE OF VA

HF and cardiometabolic disease

Many studies have linked vascular risk with BMI, giving results that may be contradictory. It has been seen that BMI is very heterogeneous and that similar values of BMI are related to very different cardiovascular co-morbidity. For many years, it has been well established that abdominal, central, or visceral obesity is an independent cardiometabolic risk factor. In addition, the meta-analysis carried out by Mottillo et al[88] showed that metabolic syndrome, including abdominal circumference, was associated with an increased risk of CVD and cardiovascular mortality (RR = 2.40; 95%CI: 1.87 to 3.08). Variations in VAT have shown to be more relevant than BMI measures in the cardiometabolic effect of intervention measures, and this relationship was independent after adjustment for BMI. This heterogeneity of the BMI, especially in patients with severe obesity, when quantifying risk and cardiovascular disease, has prompted the study of methods that allow quantification of the different compartments of fatty tissue in the body. Recently, the relationship between VA measured by standard techniques such as NMR and CT and the different cardiometabolic parameters has been reported. Also, it has been observed that 25% of variations in abdominal or visceral fat, which are seen when losing 5%-10% of body weight, are associated with a significant decrease in cardiovascular risk factors.

VA has been shown to be associated with cardiac and vascular remodeling, fibrosis, and diastolic dysfunction, and these structural and functional changes were associated with blood fibrosis biomarkers[89]. In addition, Lee et al[90] demonstrated that LV mass and geometry worsened over the period of observation in obesity and that the waist-to-hip ratio and waist-to-height ratio remained significantly associated with ventricular mass even after adjusting for BMI. However, VA also includes VAT and ectopic fat or adipose tissue inside or surrounding the organs such as the pancreas, kidney and heart. In this regard, most studies have found an association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and CVD or mortality, but the association disappears when it is adjusted for abdominal circumference and other metabolic variables. However, the severity of NAFLD has been associated with aortic stiffness, a surrogate CV risk factor, and independently of the abdominal circumference. This data suggested the independent role of liver fat in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease[91].

Furthermore, in 2529 participants from the Framingham Heart Study[92], the fat depots were evaluated by TC and RMN and were associated with cardiometabolic risk factors. The VA and intrahepatic fat, but not SA, were more robust and continuously correlated with most of the risk factors after further adjustment for BMI and waist circumference. The authors suggested that VA and intrahepatic fat were correlates of cardiometabolic risk factors, above and beyond standard anthropometric indices such as BMI and SA[92].

Obesity is also considered a major risk factor for HFpEF, which is being associated with morbi-mortality[93]. HFpEF is the most common phenotype in the community, mostly associated with adiposity and aging. Data from more than 100000 patients hospitalized for acute decompensated HF have also shown that HFpEF represents 50.4% of patients with an in-hospital assessment of LV function[94]. The study of vascular structures and function among HFpEF patients revealed an obesity-related HFpEF phenotype, which has increased plasma volume, increased concentric LV remodeling, greater right ventricular dilatation, and augmented epicardial fat thickness[95]. This increased heart volumes and greater pericardial restrain augmented ventricular interdependence. The RV to LV filling pressure relative to transmural pressure has led to higher biventricular filling and pulmonary venous pressures[95]. In addition, in the Treatment of Preserved Cardiac Function Heart Failure with an Aldosterone Antagonist (TOPCAT) trial, similar echocardiographic findings with plasma volume expansion and enlarged left atrial size have been reported[96]. In addition, obesity-associated high NEP levels and low natriuretic peptides might also contribute to the volume expansion observed in patients with HFpEF[97].

Adiposity and WRF

The increased prevalence of CKD is around 10%. It has been demonstrated that CKD increases CVD and death[98]. Also, a recent meta-analysis from nine studies showed that VA measured by waist-to-height-ratio was a better predictor of CKD relative to other physical measurements[99]. Adiposity measured by BMI and waist circumference impair kidney function by inducing hyperfiltration, increasing glomerular capillary wall tension, and podocyte stress acting both directly and through obesity-related diabetes and hypertension, the two most common risk factors for end-stage kidney disease[100].

The mechanisms that link excess of adiposity, systemic and visceral, and renal damage have implicated neurohumoral pathways such as inflammation, oxidative stress, impaired lipid metabolism, endothelial dysfunction, and activation of the RAS and production of aldosterone and fibrosis. Early in the development of obesity, there is a decline in the renal plasma flow that deteriorates renal hemodynamics[101]. In this setting, the GFR is maintained by either efferent vasoconstriction or afferent vasodilatation[102]. The rise in glomerular pressure in turn affects hyperfiltration and albuminuria, expansion of mesangial matrix, podocyte disorder, and interstitial fibrosis. Finally, the damaged glomerular basement membrane and dysfunctional podocytes deteriorate renal function, declining GFR which is associated with nephron loss that predisposes to AKI or CKD. In this regard, there are many clinical studies that have reported the correlation between visceral and retroperitoneal fat and WRF[103].

Ectopic adiposity with systemic repercussions observed in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis with or without advanced fibrosis was associated with a higher prevalence and incidence of CKD. The magnitude of this damage was positively associated with each CKD stage, but unaffected by diabetes status[104]. Perinephric fat acting locally contributed to renal dysfunction and fibrosis[105]. In addition, in the Framingham Heart Study, the perinephric fat size was an independent risk factor for hypertension and CKD[106]. In addition, renal sinus fat was correlated with the number of prescribed antihypertensive medications, stage II hypertension, and renal size[107].

Furthermore, the perinephric and visceral fat may be a source of local lipid-induced damage and a source of adipokines such as leptin, adiponectin and FGF21. Overall, vascular dysfunction and tubule-interstitial fibrosis have been proposed as the key mechanism implicated in the progression of obesity-related kidney disease. Accordingly, in vitro and in vivo studies showed that chronic stimulation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) as well as endothelin G-protein beta-gamma-subunit (Gbetagamma) signaling were associated with experimental CRS and pathological fibroblast activation. These data suggested GPCR-Gbetagamma inhibition as a novel therapeutic approach for treating CRS and AKI[108].

RANGE OF ADIPOSITY, METABOLIC HEALTHY OBESITY AND SEVERE AND MORBID OBESITY

Metabolic healthy obesity, moderate adiposity and obesity paradox

The concept of metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) implies a subgroup of obese individuals with few metabolic risk factors, in contrast to metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO) which is equivalent to metabolic syndrome[109]. In the Framingham Heart Study offspring cohort participants who were followed up for more than 15 years, there was a modest, positive association of obesity with CVD and CKD. The association of metabolically unhealthy with CVD was more robust than being obese, but it was comparable with incident CKD[110]. In a population-based prospective study, during 12 years of follow-up, the risk of HF was similarly increased in MH and metabolically unhealthy in moderate obesity (BMI < 35)[111]. Although the risk of incident CKD in MHO was slightly higher than that in non-obese MH, the evolution to a metabolically unhealthy status increases the risk for incident CKD[112]. Individuals characterized as MHO constitute a dynamic and heterogeneous group with a low-risk cardiorenal phenotype but not an absence of risk for HF and CKD.

The relationships between obesity and CRS are not always linear. A recent meta-analysis has shown that the relationship between BMI and HF risk has a J-shape, where there was a non-significant slightly greater risk of incident HF between underweight and overweight individuals[113]. Similarly, it has been observed that there are some clinical situations such as HF or CKD in which obesity improves survival, which has been called the obesity paradox. A sub-analysis of the MAGGIC meta-analysis has shown that BMI was paradoxically associated with survival rates in both HFpEF and HFrEF patients, and demonstrated that mortality risk had a U-shaped curve with a nadir at 30.0-34.9 kg/m²[114]. The paradoxical decline in mortality rate with increasing BMI and the U-shape curve for CV mortality was also confirmed recently[113]. Although obesity and increased adiposity are a risk factor for the incidence and progression of CKD, the relationship of BMI with survival in both CKD and end-stage renal disease has also been reported as a U-shaped curve, where higher BMI values have a potential protective effect[115].

Severe obesity and HF

Obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes, CVD, diminished life expectancy, and impairment in quality of life. The analysis of cardiometabolic risk factors in morbid obesity revealed that hypertension, CRP, and family history were more prevalent in a patient with BMI greater than 45[9]. In the same study, there was also an increase in waist circumference, body fat, visceral fat area, and systolic blood pressure in the highest BMI and suggested an enhanced risk for the occurrence of CVDs[9]. In fact, the mortality rate in morbidly obese patients without effective treatment was remarkably higher than that observed in surgically treated patients[116].

Several specific markers of inflammation and fibrosis have been specifically associated with morbid obesity. Growth differentiation factor 15, which is a marker of CVD and diabetes, has been seen to increase in severe obesity and correlates with abdominal circumference and glucose metabolism parameters[117]. GlyA, a marker of systemic inflammation and associated with cardiovascular risk and mortality, has been shown to increase in severe obesity. The values of GlyA normalized in 77 severe obese patients (BMI: 44.1 ± 6.4 kg/m²) one year after surgery, and more than 41% of patients still had a BMI > 30[118]. In addition, in a cohort of 36258 type 1 patients followed-up over 9.7 years, severe obesity (BMI > 35 kg/m²), but not moderated obesity, was associated with the development of atrial fibrillation[119]. Figliuzzi et al[120] studied 24 h, day-time and night-time systolic/diastolic BP levels in a large cohort of adult outpatients with different classes of BMI and controls. BMI was significantly and independently related to the clinic (r = 0.053; P < 0.001), 24 h (r = 0.098; P < 0.001) and night-time systolic BP (r = 0.126; P < 0.001), and LV mass indexed by height (r = 0.311; P < 0.001).

The cardiorenal obesity syndrome with HFpEF in morbid obese patients could predispose to AKI, right-side volume overload, and right-side volume overload in the setting of complications such as sepsis or infection. This type of CRS carried a significant mortality rate of 50%[121]. In fact, echocardiographic and hemodynamic assessment of severe obesity with HFpEF showed increased plasma volume, more concentric LV remodeling, more right ventricular dysfunction, increased epicardial fat thickness, than that in non-obese HFpEF, supporting the previously mentioned concept of obese-specific HFpEF[95].

Obesity is a risk factor for incident HF, and weight loss is an established approach for preventing or managing HF, with a role for bariatric surgery in patients with severe obesity. However, weight loss for patients with existing HF and obesity is a more controversial topic owing to an obesity survival paradox[122]. Dietary interventions and pharmacologic weight-loss therapies are understudied in HF populations and with modest weight reduction success[123]. However, given the challenges in morbid obese patients with CVD or HF syndromes in particular, the optimal treatment, which includes bariatric surgery should be considered in a multidisciplinary team approach in order to indicate surgery for these patients. Cohort studies, and head-to-head clinical trials, randomized and non-randomized, comparing medical vs surgical weight loss in severe/morbid obesity have demonstrated the superiority of surgical procedures in controlling diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular events and mortality rate[124]. Meta-analyses involving 29208 patients who underwent bariatric surgery and 166200 controls showed that bariatric surgery reduced total mortality by 50%, the risk of composite cardiovascular adverse events (OR = 0.45), myocardial infarction (OR = 0.46), and stroke (OR = 0.49)[125]. These data indicate that patients undergoing bariatric surgery have a reduced risk of cardiovascular events, but HF and hospitalization for HF have not been extensively studied in RCTs or meta-analyses.

Thus, we will focus on the main studies on the effect of bariatric surgery on HF outcomes in morbidly obese patients. The studies regarding bariatric surgery in severely obese patients with HF are summarized in Table 3. In patients with HF, obesity surgery has been shown to improve LV remodeling[126], reduce LV mass in HFrEF[127] and in normotensive asymptomatic morbid obesity at risk of HFpEF[128]. Thus, bariatric surgery was able to reduce the need for hospitalization and emergency department visits, improving functional capacity and quality of life along with the control of blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, and the metabolic syndrome components[129,130]. In addition, bariatric surgery in advanced HF may avoid the need for immediate transplants or LV assist devices as well as cardiac transplantation[131].

Table 3.

Major studies on the effect of bariatric surgery in heart failure outcomes

	Year, country	Participants Surgical/Control	Follow-up Surgical procedures	HF type	HF and LV outcomes
Alpert et al[190]	1985, United States	62 vs none	4.3 ± 0.3 mo	NA	A decrease in LV dimensions
			Surgical gastric restriction.	(↑ LVS, ↑ LVpW)	Lower mean blood pressure
Ramani et al[131]	2008, United States	12 vs 10	1 yr	HFrEF (treated)	Lower hospital readmission
			Mostly LRYGB		LVEF improved
					NYHA improved
Miranda et al[130]	2013, United States	13 vs 6	4.3 yr	HFrEF 77%	Better Quality of life
			Mostly RYGB	HFpEF 23%	Better functional capacity
					Less leg edema
Vest et al[127]	2016, United States	38 vs 2588 non surgical obese	2.6 yr	HFrEF	Improvement in LVEF; 28% improved; LVEF > 10% vs < 1% control
			RYGB, AGB, SG
Shimada et al[126]	2016, United States	524 vs none	2 yr	NA	Lower rate of HF exacerbations (ED visits), 1 to 2 yr after surgery
					Lower rate of hospitalizations
Berger et al[191]	2018, Switzerland	676 (meta-analysis of surgery vs conventional treatment)	NA	NA	HR for the incidence of HF in MO without pre-existing HF 0.44 (0.36, 0.55) vs conventional treatment
					Reduced ED visits and readmission
					Increase left ventricular ejection
					Improve the quality of life and symptoms

AGB: Adjusted gastric banding; ED: Emergency department; HR: Hazard ratio; HF: Heart failure; L: Laparoscopic; LRYGB: Laparoscopic RYGB; LVEF: Left ventricular ejection fraction; LVpW: Left ventricular posterior wall; LVS: Left ventricular septum; NA: Not available; RYGB: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; SG: Sleeve gastroplasty.

Severe obesity and kidney disease (CKD and AKI)

The obesity-related cardiometabolic and renal pathways have been previously mentioned. Several specific effects have been reported in morbid or severe obesity with WRF and hypertension. Despite early reports of the renal effect of obesity, most of our data are from bariatric surgery clinical trials, with few data from experimental studies. Morbid obesity might exert specific alterations based on the amount of adiposity. Increasing abdominal and retroperitoneal fat mass can physically compress the kidneys[132]. The high intraabdominal pressure compresses the veins, lymph vessels and ureters; it increases intrarenal pressure and elevates interstitial hydrostatic pressure[133]. This increase in pressure can compromise or reduce tubular blood flow and increase sodium tubular reabsorption reducing tubular sodium delivery. Finally, activation of the RAS, vasodilation of the afferent arterioles, increased intraglomerular pressure and glomerular hyperfiltration result in arterial hypertension and WRF[133]. In addition, the equation for eGFR based on creatinine may overestimate renal function in patients with significant weight reductions which occurs after bariatric surgery, likely due to changes in muscle mass. Therefore, measured GFR (mGFR) adjusted for body surface area, which appears to be unchanged, along with cystatin C based equations have been recommended[134].

With regard to cardiovascular complications in severe obesity, the only proven strategy to reduce visceral, retroperitoneal fat mass and renal fat and their adverse effects on renal function in severe/morbid obesity is bariatric surgery. Thus, we will focus on the main studies on the effect of bariatric surgery in morbidly obese patients on renal outcomes. Studies on the effects of bariatric surgery on kidney function are summarized in Table 4. Bariatric surgery in patients with previous preserved kidney function reduces the risk of worsening eGFR, end-stage renal disease[135], and reduces albuminuria by lowering systemic inflammation[136]. Also, metabolic parameters have been associated with improvement in renal function after surgery[137]. In addition, improvements in vascular indices such as a renal resistive index or carotid intima-media thickness were found to increase GFR following surgery[138].

Table 4.

Major studies onf the effect of bariatric surgery on renal outcomes

Authors	Year, country Follow up	Patients Surgical/control	Surgical procedure	Diabetes, CVD, RD	Outcomes
Serra et al[192]	2015, Spain (76 ± 42 mo)	92 vs none	GB	D2: 14%	No WRF
			Renal biopsy	Glomerulopathy 75%	A decrease in creatinine and albuminuria
					No progression (not related to glomerular lesions)
Neff et al[142]	201, France (1 and 5 yr)	190 vs 271	RYGB vs	D2: 39%. CVD:	Improvement in eGFR in both procedures
			LAGB	28%. CKD: 4%
					RYGB better in remission of hypertension
					RYGB better in diabetes
Nehus et al[143]	2017, United States	242 vs none	3 yr	D2: 12.6%	eGFR increased by 3.9 mL/min per 1.73 m2 for each 10-unit loss of BMI.
			RYGB 66.5%	Albuminuria: 17%
			SG: 27.7%		A decrease in ACR
			AGB: 5.8%
Wakamatsu[141]	2018, Japan	254	LSG 24	D2: 51%	Improvement of eGFRcys in mild CKD (eGFRcys ≥ 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2)
			LSG-DJB 94
			LRYGB 26
			LAGB 10
					NS: eGFRcys in moderate CKD (< 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2)
Solini et al[138]	2019, Italy	25 vs none	1 yr	No D2. No HTA	Improvement in mGFR
			RYGB		Improvement in a renal resistive index and correlates with mGFR
					Lowers carotid intima-media thickness
Inge et al[144]	2019, United States	Adoles vs adults	5 yr	D2: 14% vs 31%	HTA and D2 remissions are higher in adolescents than in adults. Rate of death (NS)
		161 vs 396	RYGB	HTA: 30% vs 61%

ACR: Albumin-creatinine ratio; AGB: Adjusted gastric banding; D2: Diabetes mellitus type 2; GB: Gastric bypass; L: Laparoscopic; LSG-DJB: Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy with duodenojejunal bypass; RYGB: Roux-en-Y gastric bypass; SG: Sleeve gastrectomy; mGFR: Medium glomerular filtration rate; CKD: Chronic kidney disease; CVD: Coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, endarterectomy carotid; NS: Not significant.

In patients with established or advanced renal disease following bariatric surgery, although there may be an increase in early postoperative renal complications[139], the long term effects have been demonstrated to improve albuminuria, hypertension and further renal stabilization in renal disease[140]. However, in a Japanese cohort who underwent bariatric surgery, no benefit due to surgery was found in those with more advanced renal disease[141]. Indeed, there were observed differences among surgery procedures regarding renal response, with Roux-en-Y gastric bypass surgery having better results than adjustable gastric banding[142].

Also, there were differences in the age of morbidly obese patients regarding bariatric surgery outcomes. First, Nehus et al[143] reported a significant improvement in terms of eGFR and proteinuria in morbidly obese adolescents undergoing bariatric surgery with preoperative renal disease. Moreover, Inge et al[144] showed that 5 years after bariatric surgery, the remission rate of hypertension and diabetes was greater in adolescents than in adults. These data suggested that excess of adiposity seen in morbid obesity predispose to renal disease and early intervention appears to improve the outcome.

NEW TREATMENT STRATEGIES FOR THE CARDIORENAL SYNDROME

There are no specific treatments for the CRS, therefore they are usually based on the underlying pathophysiological alterations in each type and the timeframe of development. Diuretics, ultrafiltration (UF), RAS inhibitors, vasodilators, and inotropes are mainly used in CRS.

Diuretics play a primary role in the management of patients with CRS, both acute and chronic. The effectiveness of volume overload management with diuretics decreases with the progression of HF along with CKD leading to complex and challenging scenarios. Firstly, diuretic resistance is thought to result due to neurohormonal activation along with vascular, tubular, and glomerular effects[145]. Diuretic resistance is associated with the worst prognosis and an increase in hospitalization and cardiovascular mortality[146]. Despite the optimal dose of diuretic therapy, the Diuretic Optimization Strategies Evaluation (DOSE) trial found that 42% of patients died, were rehospitalized, or had an emergency department visit within the 60-d follow-up period[147]. Diuretic therapy has been shown to be insufficient in the acute management of HF, which has led to additional treatments such as dopamine, vasopressin, and adenosine A1 antagonists, and extracorporeal UF. Although these strategies improve liquid overflow in the short-term, they have shown conflicting long-term outcomes. Secondly, greater volume expansion and renal perfusion pressure along with right ventricular dysfunction and ventricular interdependence are characteristic of HFpEF associated with obesity where decongestion might undermine cardiorenal function. In acute decompensated HFpEF obese patients from several trials, Reddy et al[148] showed that decongestive therapies increased the incidence of WRF by 2-fold and the incidence of severe WRF (9% vs 0%, P = 0.002) compared to non-obese patients and demonstrated that there were no differences in survival and rehospitalization in obese as compared to non-obese patients with HFpEF. According to these data, in a post hoc analysis of the DOSE study[149], the composite outcome of death, hospitalization or an emergency room visit was strongly related to improvement in renal function, whereas a linear increase in creatinine was paradoxically associated with improved outcomes. The authors suggested that some patients with improved creatinine levels were suboptimally decongested, and changes in serum creatinine did not reflect poor outcomes and should be evaluated in the context of the clinical picture. Thus, in the short-term effects of medication omission, reductions in serum creatinine by 8% were associated with increases in NT-proBNP and left atrial volume[150].

Another class of new drugs that could be effective in patients with HF are the NEP inhibitors, which increase the natriuretic peptides and vasodilators. In a prospective randomized controlled trial of 8442 patients with HFrEF, the angiotensin-receptor NEP inhibitor (ARNi) sacubitril/valsartan was superior to enalapril in reducing the risk of death due to cardiovascular causes (HR = 0.8, CI: 0.71 to 0.89) and reduced the risk of hospitalization for HF by 21%, compared with enalapril[151]. By contrast, in the PARAGON-HF trial, sacubitril-valsartan did not result in a significantly lower rate of total hospitalization for HF and death from cardiovascular causes among patients with HF and an ejection fraction of 45% or higher, although, the difference was of borderline statistical significance[152]. However, in a post hoc analysis of the PARAGON-HF trial, when compared with valsartan, sacubitril-valsartan seemed to reduce the risk of HF hospitalization and death more in women (HR = 0.73 95%CI: 0.59-0.90) than in men (HR = 1.03 95%CI: 0.84-1.25). This study also reported that the women in this study were older, more were obese (BMI > 30, women, 51.3% vs male, 46.7%) more had VA (women, 82.7% vs male, 61.6%) and had lower eGFR than men[153].

RAS inhibitors also play a key role in the management of not only hypertension, CKD and HF but also in the framework of metabolic and functional processes such as obesity, proteinuria or albuminuria and diabetes mellitus. However, despite the guidelines, clinicians are reluctant to use this class of drugs in patients with CRS and CKD in which WRF defined by increasing serum creatinine is usually seen after the initiation of RAS inhibitors. It has been previously suggested that early WRF in the setting of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACE-I) introduction might not only result in the absence of adverse prognostic significance but also a survival advantage in those who remained on enalapril therapy[154]. However, despite RAS inhibition-induced WRF in patients with HFrEF, this was associated with a lower increased relative risk of mortality. By contrast, in patients with HFpEF, RAS inhibitor-related WRF was strongly associated with worse outcomes compared with placebo[155]. Overall, an early decrease in GFR after initiation of RAS inhibitors might represent impaired renal perfusion and not real kidney damage, maintaining the long-term cardiac and renal function stabilizing effect in the CRS[156]. Finally, the demonstrated effects of RAS inhibitor on survival and morbidity in HFrEF have seen its use recommended in numerous guidelines[157], but it contrasts with a lack of definitive benefit for patients with HFpEF.

The aldosterone-related effects in promoting the development of interstitial cardiac fibrosis, platelet aggregation, endothelial dysfunction, concentric LV hypertrophy, hypertension and CKD indicated the possibility of MR as a key target in the CRS. Clinical trials on the MA antagonist (MRA) on cardiorenal endpoints in obesity are summarized in Table 5. Obesity-related activation of RAAS and augmented aldosterone production along with an increase in MR signaling increase the risk of hypertension and CRS[158]. MRA therapy improves mortality in patients with chronic HFrEF and mild symptoms (EMPHASIS-HF trial)[159], in acute symptomatic post-myocardial infarction HFrEF (EPHESUS trial)[160] and in severe NYHA class III–IV systolic HF (RALES trial)[161]. Also, in a recent post hoc analysis of the EMPHASIS-HF trial, the benefit of eplerenone was greater in patients with abdominal obesity and HFrEF[162]. However, MRA failed to decrease mortality and the primary composite outcome in HFpEF patients in the TOPCAT trial[96]. However, in a recent meta-analysis, Kapelios et al[163] reported that MRA treatment improved indices of cardiac structure and function and suggested that MRA decreased LV filling pressures and improved cardiac remodeling. In a post hoc analysis of the TOPCAT trial based on plasma biomarkers, echocardiographic measurements and clinical features, Cohen et al[164] identified phenogroup 3 with the highest significant reduction in the risk of the primary endpoint (HR = 0.75; 95%CI: 0.59 to 0.95). This phenogroup 3 exhibited more functional impairment, obesity, diabetes, CKD, LV hypertrophy, high renin, and biomarkers of inflammation and fibrosis. Furthermore, MRA added to ACEI/ARB reduced urinary protein/albumin excretion in diabetic nephropathy[165]. The side effects of hyperkalemia and WRF explain the underuse and discontinuation of these drugs during the treatment of CRS[166]. Therefore, a new potassium binder patiromer was associated with less hyperkalemia in patients with CKD treated with higher spironolactone doses[167].

Table 5.

Recent major clinical trials of MRA in cardiorenal syndrome and their relationship with adiposity

Trial	n (follow-up)	BMI > 30 %	eGFR % < 60 mL/min	CVD(%) vs HF(%)	DM2	CV and RO (HR, significant)
EMPHASIS-HF[159] (eplerenone vs PBO)	2737 (21 mo)	27%	33%	70% (IHD)	31%	CVO1,2,3,4,5
				HFrEF (NYHAII)		RO: NS
						High WC: Greater benefit of eplerenone[163]
TOPCAT[96] (spironolactone vs PBO)	3445 (3.3 yr)	50%	39%	59%(IHD)	32%	CVO4
				HFpEF (NYHAII-IV)
TOPCAT post hoc[193] (BMI&NP categories)	997 (3.3 yr)	NR	NR	NR	NR	High BMI/high NP1,4,5
						High NP5
TOPCAT post hoc[166] (eGFR categories)	1767 (3.3 yr)	70%	53.4%	MI (20.3%)	44.5%	AE increased with declining eGFR eGFR ≥ 60 vs eGFR ≤ 451,2,4,5
FIDELIO-DKD[170] (finerenone vs PBO)	5734 (< 48 mo)	58%	87%	45.9% & 7.5 (HFpEF)	100%	Outcomes expected in 2020 (composite RO and secondary endpoints CV )
FIGARO-DKD[171] (finerenone vs PBO)	7437 (< 53 mo)	60%	38%	44.3% & 7.6% (HFpEF)	100%	Outcomes expected in 2021 (composite RO and secondary endpoints CV )
AMBER[167] (patiromer vs PBO)	295 (3 mo)	NR	100%	19.3% (MI) & 45% (HF)	49.1%	Les hyperkaliemia
						Less Spironolactone withdrawal

CVD: Coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, endarterectomy carotid; BMI: Body mass index; HF: Heart failure; PBO: Placebo; CVO: Cardiovascular outcomes; eGFR: Estimated glomerular filtration rate; IHD: Ischemic heart disease; MI: Myocardial infarction; NP: Natriuretic peptide; RO: Renal outcomes; WC: Waist circumference; O: Outcomes; DM2: Diabetes mellitus type 2; NR: Not reported.

¹Primary outcome (composite^1,2,3).

²Mortality CV.

³Aborted cardiac arrest.

⁴Hospitalization for heart failure.

⁵Death from any cause.

Recently the new non-steroidal MRA finerenone has been evaluated in the CRS. In the Mineralocorticoid Receptor antagonist Tolerability Study-Heart Failure (ARTS-HF) trial with the primary outcome of NT-proBNP decrease and exploratory endpoint of death and cardiovascular events, finerenone achieved the primary and composite outcomes slightly better compared with eplerenone group[168]. Furthermore, in the ARTS-DN trial[169], finerenone improved the urinary albumin-creatinine ratio in diabetic nephropathy patients receiving ACE inhibitors or AIIR blockers without worsening renal function. In both studies, hyperkalemia was reported in the highest doses of finerenone. Two relevant clinical trials are ongoing in patients with CKD, the FIDELIO-DKD[170], and the FIGARO-DKD[171], which were designed to assess renal and CV outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD.

The set of cardiac and renal pathophysiological alterations that characterize obesity-related cardiometabolic and renal syndrome, which includes diabetes mellitus and hypertension, are important for establishing therapeutic targets. The hypervolemic state, cardiomegaly and worsening intracardiac filling pressure in the obese patient might be treated with diuretics and with the new antidiabetic volume-reducing therapies, such as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. In this regard, the new diabetic therapies glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, which were shown to reduce both global and ectopic fat mass such as epicardial and renal fat, were effective in treating CRS. In addition, bariatric surgery has previously been reported to improve functional capacity in the heart and the kidneys. Studies regarding the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on the cardiorenal endpoints are summarized in Table 6.

Table 6.

Major sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors clinical trials and cardiorenal outcomes

Trial	n (follow-up)	BMI > 30	eGFR < 60 mL/min per 1.73 m2	CVD and HF	Diabetes	CVO and RO (HR; significant)
EMPA-REG[175] (empagliflozin vs PBO)	7020 (3.1 yr)	51%	25.9%	99.2% and 10.1%	About 100%	CVO1,2,3,4 RO6,7,8,9,10
CANVAS[172] (canagliflozin vs PBO)	10142 (2.4 yr)	59%	20,1%	65.6% and 14.4%	About 100%	CVO1,3 RO6,7,8,9
DECLARE-TIMI[174] (dapagliflozin vs PBO)	17160 (4.2 yr)	60%	7.4%	40.6% and 10%	About 100%	CVO1,3 RO6,7
CREDENCE[173] (canaglifozin vs PBO)	4401 (2.6 yr)	54.4%	60%	50.4% and 15%	52%	RO6,7,8,9 CVO1,2,3,4
DAPA-HF[176] (dapagliflozin vs PBO)	2373 (18.2 mo)	35%	26.1%	55.5% (IHD) and 100% (HFrEF)	41%	CVO1,2,3 RO: NS HFrEF: Better dapagliflozin
DAPA-CKD[194] (dapagliflozina vs PBO)	4304 (NA)	NA	About 90%	NA	Non-DM: ≥ 30%	Outcomes expected in 2020 (composite renal and secondary CV endpoints)
EMPEROR-Preserved[195] (empagliflozin vs PBO)	5988 (NA)	NA	NA (eGFR ≥ 20)	HFpEF (100%)	NA	Outcomes expected late in 2020 (composite CV, HF and secondary R endpoints)
EMPEROR-Reduced[196] (empaglifozin vs PBO)	3730 (NA)	NA	NA (eGFR ≥ 20)	HFrEF (100%)	NA	Outcomes expected late in 2020 (composite CV, HF and secondary RO)

¹Composite of worsening heart failure or cardiovascular death.

²Cardiovascular death.

³Heart failure hospitalization.

⁴Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) (death from cardiovascular causes, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or nonfatal stroke). ⁵Extended MACE.

⁶Composite renal outcomes (doubling of serum creatinine, ≥ 40% (or 50%) decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), new end-stage renal disease (ESRD), or death from renal or cardiovascular causes.

⁷New ESRD (chronic dialysis or renal transplant).

⁸Sustained reduction of ≥ 40% eGFR.

⁹Progression to macroalbuminuria.

¹⁰Doubling of serum creatinine levels. BMI: Body mass index; ACR: Albumin-to-creatinine ratio; CV: Cardiovascular; CVO: Cardiovascular outcomes; eGFR: Estimated glomerular filtration rate; ERSD: End-stage renal disease; HR: Hazard ratio; NA: Not available; PBO: Placebo; R: Renal; RO: Renal outcomes; NS: Not significant; O: Outcomes; HF: Heart failure; HFrEF: Heart failure with reduced ejection fraction; HFpEF: Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction; CVD: Coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, endarterectomy carotid.

SGLT2 inhibitors, canagliflozin[172,173], dapagliflozin[174], and empagliflozin[175] have demonstrated cardiovascular and renal benefits in several large international cardiovascular outcome trials (CVOT) in both diabetic and non-diabetic patients[176]. A recent meta-analysis of the first three trials showed that SGLT2 inhibitors reduced the risk of myocardial infarction by 11%, cardiovascular death by 16% and all-cause death by 15%[177]. This study further demonstrated that SGLT2 inhibitors significantly reduced hospitalization for HF by 31% (HR: 0.61–0.79), in both patients with atherosclerotic disease and patients with multiple risk factors. Also, SGLT2 inhibitors were renoprotective and reduced the composite of WRF, ESRD, or renal death by 45% (HR = 0.55, 0.48-0.64) across all baseline eGFR levels, although this was greater in those with preserved renal function[177]. The CREDENCE trial specifically evaluated the renal endpoint of canagliflozin in patients with pre-existing renal disease, albuminuria and eGFR 30-89 mL/min[173]. In this study, canagliflozin reduced renal composite outcome by 30% (HR = 0.7; 0.59-0.82) and the secondary composite CV outcome (CV death, nonfatal MI, or nonfatal stroke) by 20% (HR = 0.8; 0.67–0.95). The DAPA HF trial was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the SGLT2 inhibitor dapagliflozin in patients with HF and reduced ejection fraction[176]. This study showed that dapagliflozin reduced the primary composite outcome (worsening HF or cardiovascular death) vs placebo (HR = 0.74, CI: 0.65–0.85)[176].

Different mechanisms have been proposed by which SGLT2 inhibitors exert their cardiac and nephroprotective effects. Firstly, the augmented sodium delivery to the macula densa, by affecting the tubular-glomerular feedback loop, released vasoconstrictors which reduced the intraglomerular pressure and hyperfiltration without altering serum NO or activating RAAS[178]. Furthermore, in the RED study, a randomized controlled parallel study comparing dapagliflozin with gliclazide in patients with diabetes mellitus type 2, dapagliflozin reduced mGFR and filtration fraction without increasing renal vascular resistance or increasing urinary adenosine and prostaglandin concentrations[179]. Secondly, in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, Ojima et al[180] demonstrated that empagliflozin may inhibit oxidative, inflammatory, and fibrotic pathways in the kidneys partly via the suppression of oxidative stress and RAGE expression. Recently, it has been reported that SGLT2 inhibitors activated SIRT1/AMPK and suppressed Akt/mTOR signaling, the mechanisms by which these drugs might, at least partly, reduce oxidative stress, normalize mitochondrial structure and function, suppress inflammation, reduce coronary microvascular injury, enhance contractile performance, and ameliorate the progression of cardiomyopathy and nephropathy[181].

GLP-1 receptor agonists are a new class of drugs that lower HbA1c, reduce glucagon secretion, and lower blood pressure and body weight. Cardiovascular and renal outcomes have been studied in different trials and the results have been evaluated in a recent meta-analysis. The studies on the effects of GLP-1 antagonists on cardiorenal outcomes are summarized in Table 7. The combination of seven trials in 56006 participants showed that GLP-1 reduced major adverse cardiovascular events by 12% (HR = 0.88, 95%CI: 0.82-0.94; P < 0.0001), death from cardiovascular causes by 12% (HR = 0.88; 95%CI: 0.81-0.96; P = 0.003) and fatal or non-fatal stroke by 16% (HR = 0.84; 95%CI: 0.76-0.93; P < 0.0001)[182]. Interestingly, this study has shown that GPL-1 antagonists reduced hospital admission for HF by 9% (HR = 0.91; 95%CI: 0.83-0.99; P = 0.028), and a broad composite kidney outcome (development of new-onset macroalbuminuria, a decline in eGFR or increase in creatinine, progression to end-stage kidney disease, or death attributable to kidney causes) by 17% (0.83, 0.78-0.89; P < 0.0001), mainly due to a reduction in urinary albumin excretion[182]. Previously, GLP-1 receptor antagonists have been reported not to affect cardiovascular or mortality outcomes in patients with HFrEF after hospitalization[183]. Therefore, HF benefits were likely attributable to a reduction in myocardial infarction, weight loss, and blood-pressure-lowering effects. However, GLP-1 receptors are expressed in the kidneys and support the idea of a direct renal effect. Muskiet et al[184] first reported that intravenous exenatide administration in healthy overweight men acutely increased glomerular pressure in a NO-dependent manner and absolute and fractional sodium excretion in a NO-independent manner. In an in vitro study, Carraro-Lacroix et al[185] demonstrated that exedin-4 regulated sodium-hydrogen exchanger (NHE) 3 activity and suggested that GLP-1 receptor agonists modulate sodium homeostasis in the kidney by modifying NHE activity. Furthermore, it has been suggested that activation of the NHE in the heart and vasculature (NHE1 isoform) and the kidneys (NHE3 isoform) by neurohormonal derangements may serve as a common mechanism that links diabetes mellitus, obesity and CRS[186]. Taken together these data indicate that GLP-1 receptor activation might increase distal sodium transport to the macula densa, resulting in a reduction in intraglomerular pressure, and RAAS activation[187]. Finally, although the cardiorenal effects of SGLT2 inhibitors are much greater than those of GLP-1 receptor agonists, they might be an alternative in the case of intolerance or contraindication to SGLT2 inhibitors[188].

Table 7.

Major GLP-1 clinical trials and cardiorenal outcomes

Trial	n (follow-up)	BMI >30 %	eGFR % < 60 mL/min	CVD% vs HF%	DM2	CVO & RO (HR, significant)
LEADER[197] (liraglutide vs PBO)	9340 (3.8 yr)	61%	23.1%	81% vs 14% (NYHAII-III)	ALL	CVO12
						RO6: Reduction in progression to Macroalbuminuria
FIGHT[183] (liraglutide vs PBO)	300 (180 d)	50%	40%	100% vs 100%HFrEF (NYHAIII-IV)	59%	CVO:NS
						RO: Increase in cystatin C in the liraglutide group
SUSTAIN-6[198] (Semaglutide vs PBO)	3297 (2.1 yr)	64%	28.5%	83% vs 24%	ALL	CVO1245
						RO6: Reduction in progression to macroalbuminuria
EXSCEL[199] (exenatide-ER vs PBO)	14752 (3.2 yr)	63%	21.6%	73% vs 16%	ALL	CVO: NS; RO: NA
HARMONY OUTCOMES[200] (Albiglutide vs PBO)	9463 (1.6 yr)	62%	NA	100% vs 20%	ALL	CVO13; RO: NA
REWIND[201] (dulaglutide vs PBO)	9901 (5.4 yr)	46%	22%	31.5% vs 9% (NYHAII-III)	ALL	CVO14
						RO6: Reduction in Macroalbuminuria and eGFR (dulaglutide group)
PIONEER 6[202]	3183 (1.33 yr)	60%	26.9%%	85% vs 12%	ALL	CVO12 for noninferiority

¹Expanded composite cardiovascular outcome.

²Cardiovascular death.

³Non-fatal myocardial infarction.

⁴Non-fatal stroke.

⁵Revascularization.

⁶Composite Renal Outcomes (Composite new onset of macroalbuminuria, sustained decline in eGFR of ≥ 30%, a persistent doubling of serum creatinine, ESRD or new chronic renal replacement therapy comprising dialysis or renal transplantation, death attributable to renal causes). ⁶New macroalbuminuria or proteinuria. BMI: Body mass index; CVO: Cardiovascular outcomes; eGFR: Estimated glomerular filtration rate; RO: Renal outcomes; O: Outcomes; DM2: Diabetes mellitus type 2; NA: Not available; PBO: Placebo; NS: Not significant; HR: Hazard ratio; CVD: Coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, endarterectomy carotid; HF: Heart failure.

CONCLUSION

Obesity and obesity-related diabetes mellitus and hypertension contribute to the onset of CRS. Obesity is a heterogeneous and complex process in which a wide range of adiposity such as VAT, ectopic, subcutaneous or BMI level confers different associated morbi–mortality settings. It appears that most studies have linked VA to the onset and progression of HFpEF and CKD. In the initial stages, the activation of RAAS, inflammation, oxidative stress, and other neurohormonal mediators of fatty tissue acting systemically and locally, induce ventricular remodeling and glomerular hyperfiltration in the kidney. These pathophysiological pathways cause fibrosis and failure of the heart and kidney. Acute and chronic cardiovascular events increase the risk for WRF and conversely, acute and chronic renal events increase the risk of cardiovascular events, at least in diabetes. We propose obesity as a single cardiorenal umbrella, which includes the clinical spectrum of cardiac and renal disease along with obesity-related neurohormonal inflammatory, endothelial and fibrotic consequences (Figure 1). This concept is further supported by the development of new treatments for CRS in the context of metabolic disease, obesity, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The new MRA finerenone, SGLT-2 inhibitors and GLP-1 agonists, with cardiovascular and renal outcomes, along with bariatric surgery in very severe obesity, have been shown to be a new and promising therapeutic strategy in patients with obesity or obesity-related CRS.

Figure 1.

Obesity: A single cardiorenal umbrella. ACE: Angiotensin converting enzyme; ANP: Atrial natriuretic peptide; ARA2: Angiotensin receptor antagonists; GLP-1: Glucagon-like peptide 1; FFA: Free fatty acid; MR: Mineralocorticoid receptor; NO: Nitric oxide; SGLT2i: Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors; SNS: Sympathetic nervous system; NAFLD: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; RAAS: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system; CKD: Chronic kidney disease.