Normal coronary arteries in patients with systolic heart failure who have higher body mass index

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Published on: April 13, 2015

Prasanna Kumar Venkatesh1, Janos Molnar, Paari Dominic Swaminathan

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Medicine, Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, Chicago, Illinois 60064, USA.

Heart & Lung : the Journal of Critical Care
|March 17, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Obese patients with heart failure (HF) show a higher prevalence of normal coronary arteries compared to non-obese individuals. This suggests a potential link between higher body mass index (BMI) and better coronary artery health in HF patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Obesity Research
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Previous studies indicate a correlation between elevated body mass index (BMI) and reduced mortality in heart failure (HF) patients.
  • The
  • obesity paradox
  • in cardiovascular disease warrants further investigation into its underlying mechanisms.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) and associated risk factors between obese and non-obese patients diagnosed with systolic HF.
  • To explore the relationship between BMI and coronary artery health in the context of HF.

Main Methods:

  • Eighty-four consecutive patients with systolic HF underwent coronary angiography.
  • Patients were stratified into non-obese (BMI < 30) and obese (BMI ≥ 30) groups.
  • Coronary artery disease and risk factors were analyzed using chi-square tests.

Main Results:

  • Obese HF patients exhibited a significantly higher prevalence of normal coronary arteries (64%) compared to non-obese patients (43%).
  • Within the obese group, individuals with normal coronary arteries were younger and had a higher BMI than those with CAD.
  • Despite similar rates of significant CAD, obese patients had lower high-density lipoprotein levels.

Conclusions:

  • Higher body mass index is associated with a greater prevalence of angiographically normal coronary arteries in patients suffering from systolic heart failure.
  • These findings contribute to understanding the complex interplay between obesity, heart failure, and coronary artery health.
Abstract

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