Impact of body mass index on in-hospital outcomes following percutaneous coronary intervention (report from the New York State Angioplasty Registry)

Although obesity traditionally has been considered a risk factor for coronary revascularization, recent data from registry studies have shown a possible protective effect of obesity on outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Using data from the New York State Angioplasty database over a 4-year period, we analyzed 95,435 consecutive patients who underwent PCI. Classification of body mass index (BMI) was: underweight (<18.5 kg/m(2)), healthy weight (18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2)), overweight (25 to 29.9 kg/m(2)), moderate obesity (class I) (30 to 34.9 kg/m(2)), severe obesity (class II) (35 to 39.9 kg/m(2)), and very severe obesity (class III) (>40 kg/m(2)). In-hospital postprocedural mortality and complications were compared among these groups. Compared with healthy weight patients, patient with class I or II obesity had lower in-hospital mortality and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) (combined death, myocardial infarction, and emergency surgery), whereas patients at the extremes of BMI (underweight and class III obese patients) had significantly higher mortality and MACE rates. Adjusted hazards ratios for in-hospital mortality according to BMI were: underweight (2.69), healthy weight (1.0), overweight (0.90), class I obese (0.74), class II obese (0.67), and class III obese (1.63). Patients at the extremes of BMI (<18.5 and >40 kg/m(2)) were at increased risk of MACEs, including mortality after PCI, whereas patients who were moderately to severely obese (BMIs 30 to 40 kg/m(2)) were at lower risk than healthy weight patients.     

Effect of body mass index on early outcomes in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to quantify the effect of body mass index (BMI) on early clinical outcomes following coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). BACKGROUND: Obesity is considered a risk factor for postoperative morbidity and mortality after cardiac surgery, although existing evidence is contradictory. METHODS: A concurrent cohort study of consecutive patients undergoing CABG from April 1996 to September 2001 was carried out. Main outcomes were early death; perioperative myocardial infarction; infective, respiratory, renal, and neurological complications; transfusion; duration of ventilation, intensive care unit, and hospital stay. Multivariable analyses compared the risk of outcomes between five different BMI groups after adjusting for case-mix. RESULTS: Out of 4,372 patients, 3.0% were underweight (BMI <20 kg/m(2)), 26.7% had a normal weight (BMI >or=20 and <25 kg/m(2)), 49.7% were overweight (BMI >or=25 and <30 kg/m(2)), 17.1% obese (BMI >or=30 and <35 kg/m(2)) and 3.6% severely obese (BMI >or=35 kg/m(2)). Compared with the normal weight group, the overweight and obese groups included more women, diabetics, and hypertensives, but fewer patients with severe ischemic heart disease and poor ventricular function. Underweight patients were more likely than normal weight patients to die in hospital (odds ratio [OR] = 4.0, 95% CI 1.4 to 11.1), have a renal complication (OR = 1.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0 to 3.7), or stay in hospital longer (>7 days) (OR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.5). Overweight, obese, and severely obese patients were not at higher risk of adverse outcomes than normal weight patients, and were less likely than normal weight patients to require transfusion (ORs from 0.42 to 0.86). CONCLUSIONS: Underweight patients undergoing CABG have a higher risk of death or complications than normal weight patients. Obesity does not affect the risk of perioperative death and other adverse outcomes compared to normal weight, yet obese patients appear less likely to be selected for surgery than normal weight patients.     

Medical therapies and invasive treatments for coronary artery disease by body mass: the "obesity paradox" in the Get With The Guidelines database

Previous studies of hospitalized patients have suggested an "obesity paradox" with lower short-term mortality as weight increases. We hypothesized that some of this difference might be related to more aggressive management. To evaluate the effect of body mass index (BMI) on treatments and outcomes in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), the Get With The Guidelines database was investigated. From 409 United States hospitals, 130,139 hospitalizations for CAD were identified with documented height and weight. Patients were stratified by BMI, with 3,305 (2.5%) underweight (BMI <18.5 kg/m(2)), 34,697 (27%) of healthy weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2)), 47,883 (37%) overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9 kg/m(2)), 37,686 (29%) obese (BMI 30 to 39.9 kg/m(2)), and 6,568 (5%) extremely obese (BMI > or =40 kg/m(2)). As BMI increased, patients were significantly younger but more likely to be men and have hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. Unadjusted in-hospital mortality was highest in the underweight group (10.4%) and significantly lower in the healthy-weight (5.4%), overweight (3.1%), obese (2.4%), and extremely obese (2.9%) patients. Higher BMI was associated with increased use of standard medical therapies such as aspirin, beta blockers, inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system, and lipid-lowering therapy in the hospital and at discharge. In adjusted analyses, compared with the healthy-weight group, overweight and obese patients were more likely to undergo invasive procedures and had lower mortality (p <0.01 for all odds ratios). In conclusion, increasing BMI appears to be associated with better use of guideline-recommended medical treatment and invasive management of CAD, which may explain the observed lower rates of in-hospital mortality.     

Evaluation of nutritional status in patients undergoing hematopoietic SCT

The aims of this study were to establish the nutritional status of patients during hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) and to determine if body mass index (BMI) is a valid indicator of nutritional status in this population when compared with nitrogen balance (NB). In total, 50 patients were enrolled (mean age: 25.7+/-9.0 years). Patients (14%) were underweight (BMI<18.5 kg/m(2)), 58% in a normal BMI (between 18.5 and 24.9 kg/m(2)) and 28% were overweight or obese (BMI >or= 25 kg/m(2)). NB dropped after transplantation and increased from days +5 to +20 after transplantation (P=0.006). There was a significant negative relationship between patients' BMI and time to engraftment (r=-0.45, P=0.001). Engraftment of underweight patients was 3.0 days (P=0.002) and 4.0 days (P<0.001) later than in normal and overweight or obese patients, respectively. There was no significant correlation between NB before transplantation and time to engraftment (r=-0.22, P=0.16). The results of this study demonstrate that patients undergoing HSCT may have suboptimal nutritional status and that pre-HSCT-BMI rather than NB may have a greater correlation in HSCT patients with the time of engraftment. Therefore, it may be useful to consider patient's BMI before transplantation for earlier engraftment time.     

Association of body weight with condition-specific quality of life in male veterans

PURPOSE: We hypothesized that obese adults with coronary heart disease, obstructive lung disease, or depression would report greater impairments in health-related quality of life owing to their angina, dyspnea, or depressive symptoms as compared with persons with normal body weight. METHODS: We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Ambulatory Care Quality Improvement Project, a multicenter study of veterans enrolled in general internal medicine clinics. Health-related quality of life was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36, the Seattle Angina Questionnaire, the Seattle Obstructive Lung Disease Questionnaire, and the Hopkins Symptom Checklist for Depression. RESULTS: Compared with patients of normal weight (body mass index: 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m2), underweight patients (body mass index <18.5 kg/m2) reported health-related quality-of-life scores that were at least 5% lower (worse) in all 15 quality-of-life domains examined. Patients with class III obesity (body mass index > or =40 kg/m2) reported quality-of-life scores that were at least 5% lower than those of normal weight patients in eight domains. Scores of overweight patients (body mass index: 25 to 29.9 kg/m2) were higher (better) than those of normal weight patients in 11 domains. CONCLUSION: Body mass index was strongly associated with generic- and condition-specific health-related quality of life. Our results suggest that, when considering health-related quality-of-life outcomes among veterans, the optimal body mass index may be above the "normal" range. Further research should test the validity of the 1998 National Institutes of Health body mass index categories as predictors of health outcomes among veterans.     

Association between body mass index and outcome of coronary artery bypass

Studies have shown disparate findings regarding body mass index and outcomes after coronary artery bypass. We analyzed body mass index and other clinical variables that might predict morbidity and mortality after primary isolated coronary artery bypass. Data on 4,425 patients (79% men) were reviewed retrospectively. They were classified as underweight (1.6%), normal weight (65%), obese (32%), and morbidly obese (1.4%) according to body mass index <20, 20-29, 30-39, and >40 kg·m(-2), respectively. Multiple logistic regression was used for correlates of 30-day outcome. Cox regression was used for predictors of late outcome in underweight and morbidly obese patients. There were 45 (1%) deaths and 234 (5%) cases of morbidity within 30 days. Independent correlates of 30-day morbidity were smoking, logistic EuroSCORE, blood and blood product transfusions. Correlates of 30-day mortality were logistic EuroSCORE and blood transfusion. The only independent predictor of late death in underweight and morbidly obese patients was preoperative arrhythmia. Body mass index was not a predictor of 30-day morbidity or mortality. The 1-, 3-, and 7-year survival rates were not significantly different between underweight and morbidly obese patients. Body mass index did not affect short-term outcomes after primary coronary artery bypass grafting.     

Relation among body mass index, exercise training, and outcomes in chronic systolic heart failure

Exercise training (ET) in patients with heart failure (HF), as demonstrated in the Heart Failure: A Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise TraiNing (HF-ACTION), was associated with improved exercise tolerance and health status and a trend toward reduced mortality or hospitalization. The present analysis of the HF-ACTION cohort examined the effect of ET in overweight and obese subjects compared to normal weight subjects with HF. Of 2,331 subjects with systolic HF randomized to aerobic ET versus usual care in the HF-ACTION, 2,314 were analyzed to determine the effect of ET on all-cause mortality, hospitalizations, exercise parameters, quality of life, and body weight changes by subgroups of body mass index (BMI). The strata included normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9 kg/m(2)), overweight (BMI 25.0 to 29.9 kg/m(2)), obese I (BMI 30 to 34.9 kg/m(2)), obese II (BMI 35 to 39.9 kg/m(2)), and obese III (BMI ≥40 kg/m(2)). At enrollment, 19.4% of subjects were normal weight, 31.3% were overweight, and 49.4% were obese. A greater BMI was associated with a nonsignificant increase in all-cause mortality or hospitalization. ET was associated with nonsignificant reductions in all-cause mortality and hospitalization in each weight category (hazard ratio 0.98, 0.95, 0.92, 0.89, and 0.86 in the normal weight, overweight, obese I, obese II, and obese III categories, respectively; all p >0.05). Modeled improvement in exercise capacity (peak oxygen consumption) and quality of life in the ET group was seen in all BMI categories. In conclusion, aerobic ET in subjects with HF was associated with a nonsignificant trend toward decreased mortality and hospitalization and a significant improvement in quality of life across the range of BMI categories.     

The associations of body mass index, C-peptide and metabolic status in Chinese Type 2 diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND: Chinese Type 2 diabetic subjects are generally less obese than their Caucasian counterparts. We hypothesized that lean and obese Chinese Type 2 diabetic subjects have different metabolic and insulin secretory profiles. We compared the clinical features, C peptide and metabolic status between lean/normal weight and obese diabetic subjects. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional study on 521 consecutive diabetic subjects newly referred to a Diabetes Clinic in 1996. The subjects were categorized into underweight (< 18.5 kg/m(2)), normal weight (18.5-23 kg/m(2)) and overweight (>/= 23 kg/m(2)) according to the re-defined WHO criterion for obesity in Asia Pacific Region. Metabolic and anthropometric parameters were compared between groups with different levels of obesity. RESULTS: In this cohort, 5.8, 30.6 and 63.7% of subjects were underweight, normal weight and overweight, respectively, using the 'Asian' criteria. Of these 521 subjects, 20% had fasting C-peptide less than 0.2 nmol/l, suggesting insulin deficiency. Fasting C-peptide showed linear increasing trend (P < 0.001) while HbA(1c) showed decreasing trend (P = 0.001) with BMI after adjustment for duration of disease. There were more subjects in the underweight group who were treated with insulin (41.3% vs. 13.9 and 8.2%, P < 0.001). Although homeostasis model assessment was similar amongst the three groups, systolic (P = 0.006) and diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.001) and triglyceride (P < 0.001) showed increasing, while HDL-C (P < 0.001) showed decreasing, trends across different BMI groups. The underweight patients had the lowest C-peptide and highest HbA(1c) while overweight patients had the highest C-peptide, blood pressure, triglyceride but lowest HbA(1c) levels. CONCLUSION: In Chinese Type 2 diabetic patients, lean subjects had predominant insulin deficiency and obese subjects had features of metabolic syndrome. Clinicians should have low threshold to initiate insulin therapy in lean Type 2 diabetic patients with suboptimal glycaemic control. In obese diabetic patients, aggressive control of multiple cardiovascular risks is of particular importance.     

The impact of body mass index on short- and long-term outcomes inpatients undergoing coronary revascularization. Insights from the bypass angioplasty revascularization investigation (BARI)

OBJECTIVES: We sought to investigate the impact of body mass index (BMI) on short- and long-term outcomes after initial revascularization with percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) or coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG). BACKGROUND: Equivocal results exist on the impact of BMI on the risk of in-hospital complications after PTCA or CABG, and no long-term mortality data exist from a large series of revascularized patients. METHODS: From the randomized series and observational registry of the Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation (BARI), 2,108 patients who had PTCA and 1,526 patients who had CABG were evaluated by taking their BMI at study entry. They were classified as follows: low (< 20 kg/m(2)), normal (20 to 24.9 kg/m(2)), overweight (25 to 29.9 kg/m(2)), class I obese (30 to 34.9 kg/m(2)) and class II/III obese (greater-than-or-equal 35 kg/m(2)). In-hospital complications and short- and long-term mortalities were compared between levels of BMI within each mode of initial revascularization. RESULTS: Among patients who had PTCA, each unit increase in BMI was associated with a 5.5% lower adjusted risk of a major in-hospital event (death, myocardial infarction, stroke, coma); among patients who had CABG, no difference in the in-hospital outcome was observed according to BMI. In contrast, BMI was not associated with five-year mortality in the PTCA group; among the CABG group, adjusted relative risks of five-year cardiac mortality according to levels of BMI were 0.0 (low), 1.0 (normal), 2.02 (overweight), 3.16 (class I obese) and 4.85 (class II/III obese) (linear p < 0.001).CONCLUSIONS: Body mass index appears to have a differential impact on short- and long-term outcomes after coronary revascularization. These results underscore the need for further research to identify factors responsible for the apparent short-term protective effect of a higher BMI in patients undergoing PTCA and to study the impact of weight reduction on the long-term survival of obese patients undergoing CABG.     

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and body mass index in five Latin America cities: the PLATINO study

BACKGROUND: The body mass index (BMI) is a prognostic factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Despite its importance, little information is available regarding BMI alteration in COPD from a population-based study. We examined characteristics by BMI categories in the total and COPD populations in five Latin-American cities, and explored the factors influencing BMI in COPD. METHODS: COPD was defined as a postbronchodilator forced expiratory volume in the first second/forced vital capacity (FEV(1)/FVC) <0.70. BMI was categorized as underweight (< 20 kg/m(2)), normal weight (20-24.9 kg/m(2)), overweight (25.0-29.9 kg/m(2)), and obese (> or = 30.0 kg/m(2)). RESULTS: Interviews were completed in 5571 subjects from 6711 eligible individuals, and spirometry was performed in 5314 subjects. There were 759 subjects with COPD and 4555 without COPD. Compared with the non-COPD group, there was a higher proportion of COPD subjects in the underweight and normal weight categories, and a lower proportion in the obese category. Over one-half COPD subjects had BMI over 25 kg/m(2). No differences in BMI strata among countries were found in COPD subjects. Factors associated with lower BMI in males with COPD were aging, current smoking, and global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) stages III-IV, whereas wheeze and residing in Santiago and Montevideo were associated with higher BMI. In females with COPD, current smoking, lower education, and GOLD stages II-IV were associated with lower BMI, while dyspnea and wheeze were associated with higher BMI. CONCLUSIONS: BMI alterations are common in COPD with no significant differences among countries. Current smoking, age, GOLD stages, education level, residing in Santiago and Montevideo, dyspnea and wheeze were independently associated with BMI in COPD.     

Global variability in angina pectoris and its association with body mass index and poverty

In the absence of a previous global comparison, we examined the variability in the prevalence of angina across 52 countries and its association with body weight and the poverty index using data from the World Health Organization-World Health Survey. The participants with angina were defined as those who had positive results using a Rose angina questionnaire and/or self-report of a physician diagnosis of angina. The body mass index (BMI) was determined as the weight in kilograms divided by the square of the height in meters. The poverty index (a standard score of socioeconomic status for a given country) was extracted from the United Nations' statistics. The associations of angina with the BMI and poverty index were analyzed cross-sectionally using univariate and multivariate analyses. The results showed that the total participants (n = 210,787) had an average age of 40.64 years. The prevalence of angina ranged from 2.44% in Tunisia to 23.89% in Chad. Those participants with a BMI of <18.5 kg/m(2) (underweight), 25 to 29 kg/m(2) (overweight), or BMI ≥ 30 kg/m(2) (obese) had a significantly greater risk of having angina compared to those with a normal BMI (≥ 18.5 but <25 k/m(2)). The odds ratios of overweight and obese for angina remained significant in the multilevel models, in which the influence of the country-level poverty status was considered. A tendency was seen for underweight status and a poverty index >14.65% to be associated with the risk of having angina, although these associations were not statistically significant in the multilevel models. In conclusion, significant variations were found in the anginal rates across 52 countries worldwide. An increased BMI was significantly associated with the odds of having angina.     

Characteristics and impact of obesity on the outpatient echocardiography laboratory

The impact of the growing obesity epidemic on the outpatient echocardiography laboratory and the characteristics of these patients were retrospectively investigated. Over a 6-month period, 916 patients were referred for study, 49.7% of whom were obese (body mass index >29.9 kg/m(2)), whereas only 22.3% were normal weight (body mass index 18.5 to 25 kg/m(2)). The obese patients were more likely to be female, black, older, and referred because of dyspnea or suspected heart failure (58.1% vs 36.8%, p <0.001). Despite a poorer quality of echocardiographic studies requiring more use of intravenous left heart contrast, the left ventricular ejection fraction was estimated in a similar proportion of these patients (93.9% vs 96.6%, p = 0.016). However, pulmonary artery systolic pressure measurement was less successfully obtained (66.6% vs 80.6%, p = 0.002). Thus, the demographics and referral diagnoses of obese patients differ significantly from normal weight patients, and body habitus presents unique imaging challenges that were only partially met while consuming greater resources.     

慢性阻塞性肺疾病患者体质量指数与肺功能及HRCT气道重塑参数的相关性研究

目的探讨低体质量指数（bodymassindex,BMI）cOPD患者肺功能受损程度、临床及影像学特征。方法选取COPD急性加重期患者62例,根据BMI分为4组：低体重组（BMI％18．5kg／m2）、正常体重组（BMI18．5～23．9kg／m2）、超重组（BMI24．0H27．9kg／m2）、肥胖组（BMI≥28kg／m2）。所有患者进行慢性阻塞性肺疾病自我评估测试（COPDassessmenttest,CAT）问卷、肺功能检测及高分辨CT（highresolutionCT,HRcT）检查,并同时应用HRCT相关软件测定肺气肿评分、气道壁厚度及管腔面积等气道重塑指标。观察各组上述指标的变化,并研究其与BMI的相关性。结果①所有患者中低体重组患者12例,正常体重组患者30例,超重组患者7例,肥胖组患者13例,各组患者的年龄、性别、吸烟指数差异无统计学意义;②与正常体重、超重及肥胖患者比较,低体重患者FEV。％pred、MVV、Dt．co／VA％pred、FEV,／FVC均下降（P〈0．05）,而RV／TLc增高（P〈0．05）;③与正常体重、肥胖患者比较,低体重患者CAT评分增高（Pd0．05）;④与正常体重、超重及肥胖组患者比较,低体重组患者肺气肿评分高（Pd0．05）;⑤低体重患者管壁面积百分比（WA％pred）、壁厚与外径比率（TDR％pred）与各组间差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）;⑥BMI与CAT评分、肺气肿评分、RV／TLC均呈负相关（r=-0．351,P〈0．05;r=-0．628,P〈0．05;r=-0．256,P〈0．05）,而与WA％pred、TDR％pred无相关性（P〉0．05）;BMI与FEV1／FVC、DLCO／VA％pred呈正相关（r=0．387,P〈0．05;r=0．549,P〈0．05）。结论低BMI的COPD患者肺气肿程度严重,通气及弥散功能明显下降,这对临床综合评估COPD病情的严重程度有一定帮助。     

The frequency of angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype and left ventricular functions in the obese population

The authors investigated the relationship between angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) genotype and left ventricular functions in an obese population and compared their findings with controls. Ninety-six obese patients and 50 controls were enrolled. Obesity was subgrouped into mild (body mass index [BMI] 25-29.9 kg/m(2)), moderate (BMI 30-34.9 kg/m(2)), and significant (BMI > or =35 kg/m(2)). Body fat distribution was categorized according to waist-to-hip ratio and waist circumference. Left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions were evaluated by echocardiography. ACE gene polymorphism was investigated by standard polymerase chain reaction, and frequency distributions were calculated for the subgroups. Systolic functional indices were found to be increased in mild and moderate obesity subgroups. The obese population had increased left ventricular diameters. None of the patients had systolic dysfunction, while diastolic dysfunction was significantly more common in the obese group; the frequency of diastolic dysfunction was proportionally increased with body mass index. Diastolic dysfunction was more common in persons with abdominal obesity. ACE DD genotype frequency was increased in moderately and significantly obese subgroups and also in all obese patients with diastolic dysfunction.     

Impact of body mass index on early outcome and late survival in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting or valve surgery or both

The influence of body mass on outcome after cardiac surgery remains controversial. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of body mass index (BMI) on early and late outcomes in a large series of patients who underwent cardiac surgery. We retrospectively analyzed 5,950 consecutive patients who underwent cardiac surgery between January 1998 and September 2006. Patients were divided into 4 groups defined by BMI (weight divided by square of height [kilograms divided by meters squared]): underweight (20 to 25 to 30 kg/m2): 22%, n=1,292. Analysis was further refined by performing subgroup analysis according to the surgical procedure (valve surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, and combined valve/coronary artery bypass grafting). Main outcome measure was the association between BMI and hospital mortality, postoperative morbidities, and late survival. Hospital mortality was 3.4% (n=203). There was no association between BMI and hospital mortality in the entire patient population. Multivariate analysis revealed obesity as an independent predictor of hospital mortality in patients who underwent valve surgery (odds ratio [OR] 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.2 to 4.5, p=0.018). Obesity was associated with an increased risk for sternal infection (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.1 to 2.9, p=0.013), whereas underweight correlated with postoperative bleeding (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.1 to 3.6, p=0.017). Underweight was an independent predictor for decreased long-term survival (OR 1.8, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.5, p<0.001). In conclusion, cardiac surgery can be performed safely in both underweight and obese patients but carries a higher postoperative rate of major complications.     

Body Mass Index and Risk of Adverse Cardiac Events in Elderly Patients with Hip Fracture: A Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether obesity affects cardiac complications after hip fracture repair. DESIGN: A population‐based historical study using data from the Rochester Epidemiology Project. SETTING: Olmsted County, Minnesota. PARTICIPANTS: All urgent hip fracture repairs between 1988 and 2002. MEASUREMENTS: Body mass index (BMI) was categorized as underweight (<18.5 kg/m²), normal‐weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m²), overweight (25.0–29.9 kg/m²), and obese (≥30 kg/m²). Postoperative cardiac complications were defined as myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, or new‐onset arrhythmias within 1‐year of surgery. Incidence rates were estimated for each outcome, and overall cardiac complications were assessed using Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age, sex, year of surgery, use of beta‐blockers, and the Revised Cardiac Risk Index. RESULTS: Hip fracture repairs were performed in 184 (15.6%) underweight, 640 (54.2%) normal‐weight, 251 (21.3%) overweight, and 105 (8.9%) obese subjects (mean age 84.2 ± 7.5; 80% female). Baseline American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) status was similar in all groups (ASA I/II vs III–V, P=.14). Underweight patients had a significantly higher risk of developing myocardial infarction (odds ratio (OR) 1.44, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.0–2.1; P=.05) and arrhythmias (OR=1.59, 95% CI=1.0–2.4; P=.04) than normal‐weight patients. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that underweight patients had a higher risk of developing an adverse cardiac event of any type (OR=1.56, 95% CI=1.22–1.98; P<.001). Overweight and obese patients with hip fracture had no excess risk of any cardiac complication. CONCLUSION: The obesity paradox and low functional reserve in underweight patients may influence the development of postoperative cardiac events in elderly people with hip fracture.     

Long-term changes of body weight in adult obese and non-obese men

In this study the long-term changes of body weight during adulthood in men obese as young adults are compared to those occurring in a random sample from the underlying population. Among 362,200 Danish draftees from 1943 to 1977, 1940 were obese (body mass index greater than or equal to 31 kg/m2). A random sample, comprising 0.5 per cent (1801), was drawn from the remaining population. In 1981-83, 4-40 years later, those living in the same region were invited to a health examination, which was attended by 964 (58 per cent) obese and 1134 (75 per cent) control subjects. In the obese group median change of body weight was 1.3 kg, and in the control group 8.3 kg. Weight change was positively correlated to duration of observation in both groups. Those with lowest body mass index at first examination tended to increase most, and those with highest body mass index tended to lose weight. However, the 5th to 95th percentiles of changes in body weight extended in the obese group from -24 to 29 kg, and in the control group from -2 to 25 kg. The range in weight change increased strikingly with increasing first body mass index exceeding 27 kg/m2. The study indicates that the greater the body mass index among young adult men, the less is the median change in body weight, but the greater is the variation of the body weight changes. These results suggest that the size of the fat mass is subject to intra-individual environmental influences that change over time.     

The effect of positions on spirometric values in obese asthmatic patients

Obesity as a common health risk is increasing all over the world. The aim of this study was evaluation of standing and sitting positions on spirometric values in obese asthmatic patients, in comparison with normal obese subjects. The study included 49 obese asthmatic patients with mean age of 42.63 years and body mass index of 36.06 kg/m2, and 51 control obese normal subjects with mean age of 39.86 years and body mass index of 36.69 kg/m2. Subjects with body mass index of (BMI) > or =30 kg/m2 were enrolled in the study. Spirometric values were measured according to American Thoracic Society (ATS) recommendation. In both groups forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) were measured in sitting and standing positions, and the results were compared. The mean+/-SD of FVC in sitting and standing positions in obese asthmatic patients were: 3.04+/-0.93 lit and 3.03+/-0.96 lit, p=0.37; and in control group: 3.68+/-1.12 lit and 3.72+/- 1.11 lit, p=0.39, respectively. The mean+/-SD of FEV1 in the sitting position and standing positions in obese asthmatic patients were: 2.38+/- 0.75 lit and 2.40+/- 0.81 lit, p=0.20; and in control subjects: 3.17+/- 0.92 lit and 3.21+/- 0.93 lit, p=0.07. This study showed that spirometric values in obese asthmatic patients with BMI> or =30 are not affected by the standing and sitting positions.     

Implications of World Health Organization classification for body mass index on the correlations between common electrocardiographic indexes for left ventricular hypertrophy and left ventricular mass

Background: Some electrocardiographic indexes such as Cornell index, Cornell product index, or Sokolow–Lyon index remain to be used in the clinical setting. We assessed the effects of body mass index (BMI) on the correlations between these ECG indexes and left ventricular mass (LVM). Methods: One hundred ninety-six outpatients who underwent both ECG and echocardiography on the same day were included in this study. In accordance with the World Health Organization (WHO) classification of BMI, the patients were classified into the four groups: underweight (<18.5 kg/m², n = 30), normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m², n = 83), overweight (25–29.9 kg/m², n = 43), and obese (≥30 kg/m², n = 40). Results: With increasing WHO classification of BMI, Cornell index (RaVL+SV3), Cornell product index [(RaVL+SV3)RQRS duration], and LVM increased. On the other hand, Sokolow–Lyon index (SV1+RV5) decreased. Cornell index correlated with LVM in normal weight group (r = 0.27, p = 0.015), but did not in the other groups. Cornell product index also correlated with LVM in normal weight group (r = 0.30, p = 0.006), but did not in the other groups. Sokolow–Lyon index correlated with LVM well in normal weight group (r = 0.32, p = 0.004) and better in underweight group (r = 0.61, p = 0.0004). However, no correlations were found in overweight and obese groups. Conclusions: Our results suggest that BMI influences the correlations between these ECG indexes and LVM, and should be taken into consideration when assessing LVH.     

Adrenergic and reflex abnormalities in obesity-related hypertension

Previous studies have shown that essential hypertension and obesity are both characterized by sympathetic activation coupled with a baroreflex impairment. The present study was aimed at determining the effects of the concomitant presence of the 2 above-mentioned conditions on sympathetic activity as well as on baroreflex cardiovascular control. In 14 normotensive lean subjects (aged 33. 5+/-2.2 years, body mass index 22.8+/-0.7 kg/m(2) [mean+/-SEM]), 16 normotensive obese subjects (body mass index 37.2+/-1.3 kg/m(2)), 13 lean hypertensive subjects (body mass index 24.0+/-0.8 kg/m(2)), and 16 obese hypertensive subjects (body mass index 37.5+/-1.3 kg/m(2)), all age-matched, we measured beat-to-beat arterial blood pressure (by Finapres device), heart rate (HR, by ECG), and postganglionic muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA, by microneurography) at rest and during baroreceptor stimulation and deactivation induced by stepwise intravenous infusions of phenylephrine and nitroprusside, respectively. Blood pressure values were higher in lean hypertensive and obese hypertensive subjects than in normotensive lean and obese subjects. MSNA was significantly (P:<0.01) greater in obese normotensive subjects (49.1+/-3.0 bursts per 100 heart beats) and in lean hypertensive subjects (44.5+/-3.3 bursts per 100 heart beats) than in lean normotensive control subjects (32.2+/-2.5 bursts per 100 heart beats); a further increase was detectable in individuals with the concomitant presence of obesity and hypertension (62.1+/-3. 4 bursts per 100 heart beats). Furthermore, whereas in lean hypertensive subjects, only baroreflex control of HR was impaired, in obese normotensive subjects, both HR and MSNA baroreflex changes were attenuated, with a further attenuation being observed in obese hypertensive patients. Thus, the association between obesity and hypertension triggers a sympathetic activation and an impairment in baroreflex cardiovascular control that are greater in magnitude than those found in either of the above-mentioned abnormal conditions alone.